_a.twist_

Thank you so much for a fabulous weekend
What an amazing festival to be part of! It was our first time to attend and I'm still exhausted but had such a great time. It was so lovely to meet/chat with new customers/makers/traders too!

So lovely to catch up with

Wa Zarashi x Japanese Indigo
Maru indigo hand-dyed scarf is made from Japanese purified cotton with Japanese indigo using a fructose (fruit sugar) vat method by

Wa Zarashi = Japanese purified cotton
Wa Zarashi has a very soft feeling, becoming even softer after usage.
Available online soon.

Here is our signature bag and it's on sale! (£15 now). The bag goes well with many different styles of clothes and it's so handy to have somewhere to put your essentials to keep them safe.

Scarves are the easiest way to accessorise in the spring and they are so versatile!

Nijiyura lightweight cotton gauze scarves are so easy to wear and pair with your timeless outfits. - it can be styled for the office and the weekend. As it's 180cm long, you can wear it in many different ways to enjoy and style however you like!

Approx 35cm x 178cm, 100% cotton
Made in Osaka, Japan

A great day at Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden Spring Fair today!
Thank you so much for stopping by and purchasing from our stall. It was really lovely to hear customers' memories/stories of their visits to Japan and their thoughts about Japan. It made me feel nostalgic and want to go back and see my family and friends. I wish Japan was closer to the UK!

It was great to meet and catch up with talented artists and makers since Christmas too, thank you very much!
.bakesandcakes

Do owls bring good luck?

In some cultures (Japan too), owls are considered very good luck. This is believed to stem from their nocturnal nature and keen night vision, symbolising "clear sight". Additionally, the ability to turn their heads extensively has led to associations with auspiciousness, prosperity, and thriving business ventures. Are there similar beliefs in your country?

Purrfectly delightful news for cat lovers 😻

Are you a cat lover?

We're delighted to announce that our one of the best sellers, Cat tower tenugui will be back in stock at the end of February. They are very popular and sell out quickly so please head over to our website before they're gone. We're taking pre-orders at the moment.

Coming out of hibernation slowly 🤣
Our first market of the year will be at on Sunday the 25th of February and we will do more in March. We have some new items too.

What have we been working on?

A new bag is in progress - we're just waiting on fabric samples and deciding what other materials to use with support from Chie in Japan.

Also, we're working with our talented friend and asking her to dye new scarves - we still need to decide what fabric and shape to go for but we love her choice of organic Indian cotton in the picture.

Anyway, please watch this space for updates ✨
Hope to share it with you soon.

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. - A perfect time to let those around you know you love them. Free shipping until the 14th of February. Code: LOVE

Whatever the British weather decides to do, stay warm with a lightweight scarf 😁

This lightweight scarf is perfect for when you need a touch of warmth or want to change your style effortlessly.

Gauze tenugui cloth has a super soft and weightless feeling. This long gauze tenugui is perfect as a scarf. As it's 180cm long, you can wear in many different ways to enjoy and style however you like!

Approx 35cm x 178cm, 100% cotton
Made in Osaka, Japan

Red-Crowned Crane tenugui

The Japanese crane (tsuru), also known as the red-crowned crane or Manchurian crane, is a very elegant animal.

The crane is a positive image in many cultures. It is said that a crane can live 1000 years or that a couple of cranes presage a happy marriage. It is also said that if you fold 1000 paper cranes you can have your wishes granted. In Japan, it is common to offer paper crane garlands (senbazuru) to people suffering to help them heal. I remember as a child my classmates and I folding 1000 paper cranes and giving them to our classmate who was suffering from a serious illness.

For my wedding, my husband and I folded a paper crane for each of our guests. Each crane carried a mini envelope with the guest's table number in its beak. (Picture no.4)

Would you like elegant crane (tsuru) on your wall?

Year of the Dragon 60cm tenugui 🐉

"Those born in the year of the dragon are ambitious, energetic and intellectual. They are romantic and strive for perfection."

Do you know anyone who was born in the year of Dragon?
I was born in the year of the Snake. Which zodiac animal are you?
#2024

Happy new year!

First of all we'd like to send our condolences to those who have been affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake, enduring hardship in the cold and facing ongoing aftershocks; also to those who have been affected by the Haneda Airport accident.

The true impact will undoubtedly be larger than that shown by the limited amount of information we receive from the news. The feelings of the people who were actually there and their loved ones. Our thoughts are with them and we hope they can find peace and quickly regain their daily lives.

This year is the Year of the Dragon.
The Chinese zodiac signs each have their own meanings. Since ancient times, they have been used for various purposes, such as guiding efficient agriculture, predicting disasters, and serving as a compass for life's uncertainties.

The Year of the Dragon is said to symbolize the dynamic growth and transformation of living beings, likened to a dragon soaring through the heavens. In essence, it signifies a year where things visibly and significantly evolve. It is anticipated to be a year of unexpected changes, breaking free from the constraints of past patterns, for better or worse. We hope it will be a better year for everyone.

The Dragon tenugui and other new tenugui will be available soon on our website. Watch this space🐉
#2024

Thank you so much to every one of you for the support this year! We've had another great year.

You might've noticed that there's only me or Yayoi at the markets. We are originally from Japan and many of our relatives live in Japan. Earlier this year, the third founding member of a twist, Chie, went back home to help her family business so that's the reason why. She's been supporting us from Japan though. (arigato!)

We don't know what awaits us next year but we plan to keep going and continue to share Japanese culture and make stylish, timeless handmade products with a little twist.

Wishing all of you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Enjoy the festive time with your loved ones.

Chi xx

P.S. our website is running during the whole of December🥳

That was a wrap! Thank you so much to everyone who came to at last Saturday and last Sunday! We had a fantastic weekend. It was really lovely to see regular and new customers, makers, artists and traders and we are blown away by all the kind comments on our products and the support. We are also really happy to hear so many of you are interested in Japan 🇯🇵

✨ Upcoming markets ✨

🗓️ Sunday 26th November, 10-4pm
🛍️ Altrincham Market
📍 Altrincham Market

🗓️ Saturday 2nd December, 12-4pm
🛍️ Stretford Socials
📍 Stretford Mall

🗓️ Sunday 3rd December, 10-4pm
🛍️ Makers at the Mill
📍 Torr Vale Mill

Looking forward to it🤩

✨ Upcoming markets ✨

🗓️ Sunday 26th November, 10-4pm
🛍️ Altrincham Market
📍 Altrincham Market

🗓️ Saturday 2nd December, 12-4pm
🛍️ Stretford Socials
📍 Stretford Mall

🗓️ Sunday 3rd December, 10-4pm
🛍️ Makers at the Mill
📍 Torr Vale Mill

Looking forward to it🤩

Sometimes a sports bum bag is too sporty so it doesn't go well with your clothes, but this Harris Tweed bag with adjustable leather strap can be used as an "outer pocket".

We'll be at this Sunday, 26th November, 10-4pm. We hope to see you there 😀

Have you started Christmas shopping yet? We have many unique items and lino cutting Christmas cards by

Last Saturday Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden Winter Fair was held in a beautiful setting with many talented artists. We had many positive comments from lovely customers. We loved talking about our products. Thank you so much for having us.

Our next market will be at on Sunday the 26th of November. Then at on Saturday the 2nd of December then our final market of the year will be at at on Sunday the 3rd of December.

Tenugui is known for its versatility. Using a tenugui can be fun and practical! Here are a few ways you can use it.

- Fashion Accessory: Get creative with it! You can use it as a scarf, headband or tie it to your bag.

- Hand Towel: The most common way to use a tenugui is as a hand towel. Simply unfold it and use it to dry your hands or face. It's absorbent and quick-drying.

Triangular Lid Mitten

Cute and practical lid mittens are made from off-cuts from our Harris Tweed bags.

A great little gift for those who love cooking 🎄