Instructor: Ruri Kippenbrock
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Ruri was born in Japan and moved to China in her teens. After graduating from Beijing University, she worked for importers/exporters and fashion designers. More than fifteen years of experience in the fashion industry in Asia has given Ruri a wealth of knowledge that reaches from the factory floor to distribution and ownership of various agencies. Ruri moved to New York in 2006 and began to piece her dreams together by starting her own business, WUHAO NEW YORK Tenugui Art. Ruri has been introducing Japanese hand-dyed products, such as tenugui (traditional Japanese towels), to an international audience. She has visited Japanese textile manufacturers to study the hand-dyeing process and has met the new generation of shokunin (craftspeople) there. Inspired by their passion for maintaining Japanese traditions while exploring innovative new products and techniques, she created the SHOKUNIN collection in Long Island City to showcase these craftspeople and connect them and their beautiful handmade crafts with New Yorkers. www.wuhaonyc.com |