by Marisa Edghill of Omiyage
At the beginning of a new year, I always like to take a look back at the things which brought a little joy to my life in an effort to make each year more joyful than the last. And, often, these are simple pleasures – a cup of tea and a good book, fresh snow, snail mail, the smell of bread baking. In 2010, one of those simple pleasures for me was washi tape.
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a group of artists approached a Japanese masking tape manufacturer – Kamoi Kakoshi – and presented them with a book of art they had created using the company’s industrial masking tapes. They came to the company with a request, that Kamoi Kakoshi manufacture masking tapes in a variety of colours for use by artists. Intrigued by what could be, Kamoi created mt masking tape – washi tape in 20 colours designed to bring out the beauty of the rice paper or washi. That is, I think, what sets Japanese masking tapes apart from their Western versions – the use of rice paper, which allows the tape to be delicate yet strong and gives it an unmatched translucent quality. Anyway, back to our story, these colourful masking tapes were a hit – with artists, crafters, and design aficionados alike. Heartened by the success, new colours and patterns – traditional, playful, modern – were released and embraced by the international community. Washi tape was a hit!
