In Japan, the phrase“Karasu no Nureba”—literally“a raven’s wet feather”—has long been used to describe the lustrous black hair admired in traditional Japanese beauty. This expression evokes a deep, elegant black with hints of blue and purple sheen, much like the glimmer of a raven’s feathers after rain.

It is a color nurtured by Japan’s aesthetic heritage—dignified, refined, and quietly powerful. Long, straight black hair with this iridescent quality was once the very symbol of the“Nihon Bijin”—the ideal Japanese beauty. The phrase“Karasu no Nureba”was the highest compliment one could offer to such grace.

In Japanese mythology, the raven is also a sacred creature, believed to carry the will of the gods. Even today, shrines dedicated to ravens can be found throughout the country, quietly preserving this spiritual connection.

Studio D’Artisan has captured the rich beauty of this traditional color using natural dyes. The warp threads are dyed with a deep indigo layered over sumi (Japanese style black ink), creating a profound black-blue tone. The weft threads are made from slub yarn dyed with Shikon (gromwell root), producing a subtle purple hue.

As the warp and weft interweave, they create a nuanced, bluish-black—quietly radiant, much like the sheen of a raven’s feather.