Visiting a country that has to contend with earthquakes might not be the most obvious choice for someone working in architectural glass but for Inge Panneels it offered the chance to get inspiration and develop new trade contacts.

For textile designer Sara Keith, however, the chance to visit Japan was like visiting her own personal Mecca.  “It’s an incredible experience” she explained.  “It’s like a shot in the arm of inspiration, finally being able to see all these things that you have read about and talked about.”

These two Scottish makers, along with textile designer James Donald, were selected by the Crafts Council to go on their Outward Mission to Japan earlier this year. The Crafts Council has been introducing British contemporary crafts to the Japanese market since 2001 by organising research visits for designer/makers to explore export opportunities and the commercial potential for their work in Japan.

Sara had become fascinated by Shibori, a Japanese resist dye technique, when she was a student at Glasgow School of Art after visiting an exhibition of kimonos at the Royal College of Art.  Struck by the technique she started to experiment and developed it from there researching extensively through books and by travelling to America, India and Africa.

This was the second time that Sara had been accepted to go a Crafts Council mission to Japan.   On her first visit the year before she had lived in a tea house in the garden of a Japanese businessman, whose son helped to interpret when she visited traditional dyers.  This amazing opportunity was the result of an introduction by Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada, the California based president of the International Shibori Symposium, who Sara had met when attending one of her seminars. 

When Inge Panneels heard she had been accepted she applied for an OMIS report which is organised through the British Embassy in Tokyo.  This report researched appropriate possible clients and they set up appointments for her as well as arranging an interpreter.  “All these services were paid for by me but really worthwhile” she explained.  “I saw nine possible clients; got some very good leads from it and some small orders.  I also spent another few days just visiting the local sites and exploring this fascinating culture.”

Sara had organised a similar report and meetings for her first visit through Scottish Development International, which is run by the Scottish Executive and Scottish Enterprise.  She also had to pay but applied for an award so the cost was greatly reduced.   For her second visit she arranged the meetings herself following up on previous contacts. 

Both Inge and Sara recommend anyone going on a similar visit should have a trade mission report done in addition to doing plenty of research before they go.  

As a result of the visit Sara has received further orders (she received some during her first visit) and offers of exhibitions.  She also spoke about her work at the British Embassy to an audience of 100 or so people using an interpreter.  She had wondered initially if taking Shibori to Japan would be like taking tartan to Scotland but found the Japanese were keen to embrace new technology and innovation and to hear about the new technique she has developed combining traditional dye techniques with silversmithing.

Inge now has the basis of a network, small orders and possible commissions. She would encourage any maker to take part in a trade mission if they have the opportunity.  “It expands your horizon and exposes your work to new potential clients and markets.  You get different feedback, new ideas, new insights and it allows you to re-evaluate your work” she explains.

But for both of them the visit to Japan was about more than business.  It was about inspiration. 

Back to Features

Print Discuss