The Aizome Collection

lavie x Claudia Caviezel

‘I didn’t want to start with a fixed idea and make something that the technology wouldn’t allow,’ explains Claudia Caviezel about the origins of the Aizome Collection. Initially, the only thing that was certain was that lavie wanted to launch an innovative project together with the multi-award-winning textile artist.

Far away from Switzerland, in the Gifu prefecture of Japan, the idea finally took shape – when Caviezel found herself with both hands deep in the vats of blue indigo dye. During her three-month stay in Japan, the designer immersed herself in the tradition of Japanese textile art. There she created an extraordinary collection for lavie, which includes kitchen towels, napkins as well as hand and shower towels.

Going blue, but the right way

‘Aizome’ has a poetic double meaning in Japanese: It stands for indigo and at the same time means ‘dyed with love’. The love of colour is also what has characterised Claudia Caviezel’s work for many years.

With grand gestures and a keen instinct, she explores how colours affect fabrics. Her versatile work ranges from haute couture fabrics to room installations and everyday designs.

In Japan, the Swiss designer was welcomed with open arms and was able to learn the craft of indigo dyeing herself at the renowned Watanabe dye works. ‘The generosity with which the Japanese craftsmen shared their knowledge was touching,’ says Caviezel.

Watanabe’s team cultivates indigo in their own fields, the harvest is dried for weeks and then fermented. Using centuries-old methods, the indigo dye is then extracted, giving textiles their characteristic ‘Japanese blue’ colour.

Typical Japanese towels –
the double-sided terry cloth

Okawa and Onsen

They are worn folded on the head in public baths, as a sweat scarf around the neck on hot days or carried in a bag. The Japanese use the textile in so many different ways every day.

Okawa and Onsen from the Aizome Collection are simple hand and shower towels at first glance, but they offer two different textures: soft, absorbent terry cloth on one side and fine muslin on the other.

A fabric that is only made on special Japanese looms. Where you use Okawa and Onsen is up to you. For the bathroom or kitchen, for a hot spring or a dip in ice water.

Typical Japanese cloths –
four-ply muslin

Suno and Sanuki

The Suno and Sanuki all-purpose cloths are made of four-ply muslin fabric. They are soft and airy, yet robust and absorbent.

Like all pieces in the Aizome Collection, they are woven from 100% cotton in Japan and dyed by hand. Suno is the plain-coloured version, available in white, light indigo and dark indigo. Sanuki is the two-colour version with circular cut-outs on a blue background.

Sami and Sora

The Sami and Sora napkins complement Suno and Sanuki perfectly and are made from the same four-ply muslin fabric. The airy, soft cotton quality has a naturally textured surface that makes every table setting even more beautiful.

Whether you’re hosting a Sunday breakfast, preparing a festive table or simply want to embellish your bento box for lunch.

The craft as inspiration

The Aizome Collection is a tribute to the art of dyeing and the stories that textiles can tell. It combines Claudia Caviezel’s creative curiosity with centuries-old techniques that do not use synthetic chemicals and thus offer a sustainable alternative to mass production. Each piece reflects the dedication with which she learnt the traditions of indigo dyeing during her time in Japan – proof that true craftsmanship is not only sustainable, but also deeply inspiring.