The Ryukyu dynasty had flourishing trade with China and Southeast Asia between the 14th and 15th centuries when weaving techniques were introduced. The climate of Okinawa led artisans to develop original styles. In Shuri, the old capital of the Ryukyu dynasty, weaving techniques, colors, designs, elegance, and style were especially developed as a result of weaving cloth dedicated to the royal family and aristocrats. Shuri Textiles has been passed down for generations in the royal family and among upper-class women. The processes of Shuri Textiles are not divided but manufactured in one continuous process by hand, so the artisans are able to produce only a small amount but various types of fabric. In spite of losing everything during World War II, the long heritage of Shuri Textiles in Okinawa has been cherished up to today. Patterns that feature the nature and animals of Okinawa originate from their unique kasuri technique. Ryukyu kasuri is believed to be one of the roots of kasuri in Japan and has influenced other kasuri production regions.

1. 1. Design Various textiles woven in Okinawa such as hanakura ori, hanaui, doton ori and minsa are collectively called Shuri Textiles. The production process of kasuri spread and had influence throughout Japan. It is said that Shuri kasuri is precursor of kasuri because of its unique hand-wound technique.
   The designs are based on a traditional design book that was edited by an artist for the royal family in Shuri. A traditional design pattern with a contemporary feel is chosen.
   
2. 2. Thread winding Itokuri or thread winding is done after removing impurities, boiling the threads in hot water to strengthen warps (parellel threads), sizing them, and starching them.
   
3. 3. Warping Warping is formatting the number and the length of threads to weave a bolt of cloth.
   
4. 4. Warp tying Warp tying (kasuri kukuri in Japanese) is a process of marking the vertical threads (warps) stretched according to the design and manually binding specific parts to avoid being dyed to make the kasuri. A special weaving loom is required to create a pattern featuring complicated, delicate patterns that are difficult to make manually. The number and the length of horizontal threads (wefts) depends on the design pattern. During this process, a loom wider than a bolt of cloth is used to set up the threads on a frame where the threads are marked according to the design, and then manually binded.
   
5. 5. Dyeing Shuri Textiles fabrics are mainly dyed with plants that are found in Okinawa, such as Ryukyu indigo, Yeddo hawthorn, and fukugi trees. The plant for Ryukyu indigo (Ryukyu ai) originated in Southeast Asian countries. Indigo plants have been believed from ancient times to be insect-repelling which is why it was used for clothing and daily use goods.
   It takes a week in summer and two weeks in winter to make indigo dye. Dye production involves a process that adds water solubility to indigo leaves to make the solution which becomes dyeable when the flowers turn red. The threads are tied and immersed in the vat of dye and rubbed gently, letting the dye absorb. Then the threads are wrung, oxidized with air, and dried in direct sunlight. Dyeing requires patience because the same steps are repeated multiple times. Shuri Textiles has a golden color which is extracted from the bark of fukugi.
   
6. 6. Preparation for weaving The dyed threads are untied, aligned, and stretched on the loom according to the design pattern. The design sequence of kasuri threads is inserting kasuri threads, stripe threads and ground threads, temporary reeding, winding, heddle drawing, and reeding. Aligned weft threads are spooled around the tube which fits into the shuttle.
   
7. 7. Weaving Skilled artisans weave Shuri Textiles by hand using a wood loom called takahata. Even an experienced weaver will take a day to complete 30㎠ of fabric as this is a complicated process. The weft threads are set in a shuttle and meticulously woven according to the design. After weaving, the brocade is washed, stretched out to dry, and the fabric is complete.