In an age where there are new man-made discoveries almost everyday, the World Tree collection is a way of appreciating the past, and reminding us from whence we came. The World Tree - Olive Wood was crafted to honor the significance of the olive tree in ancient Greece, but now, with the World Tree Ai, the spirit of Japan and Greece are combined to be even greater than the sum of its parts. 

The Sekai Ai uses the base of Olive Wood and is dyed into a distinct shade of blue, as it is a culturally significant color, and it represents how Japanese culture strengthens their ties with their heritage.  

As each pen is separately dyed, the shade of blue will never be exactly the same, which makes the already-unique Olive Wood material even more difficult to copy. This indigo dyeing process known as Aizome was chosen instead of using ordinary paint is to honor the wood's natural grain and pattern, which paint would otherwise conceal. Aizome makes it appear as if the wood itself was originally blue.

Craftmanship

Aizome is the traditional art of indigo (or blue) dyeing, which has been preserved for several centuries across the entirety of Japan. What differentiates Japan's dyeing technique is twofold: material and heritage. Unlike many other modern dyeing techniques, the masters of the Aizome technique pride themselves on achieving the vibrant blue hues without any mixture of man-made chemical substances. Instead, each House (the term for a group of artisans with the same technique) has their own fermentation and oxidation technique that negates the need for any other chemicals, and the blue color itself is sourced from the indigo plant native to the Japanese countryside.

The World Tree Ai was dyed by the Aizome Masters of Nakatsu - a castle town in Oita Prefecture renowned for its mastery over this artform. This is where the importance of heritage is most apparent. As with most artforms, there are different styles, interpretations, and even secrets. In regards to Aizome, this can vary between the specific temperature used in the oxidation process to the exact amount of dye to extract from the indigo plant, and the results have a direct impact on the shade of blue, as well as its vibrancy (or lack thereof). For the World Tree Ai, we were privileged to collaborate with artisans who were able to dye the Olive Wood without compromising the integrity of the wood, while maintaining the bright blue color that has enraptured people since the dawn of the Aizome Artform. 

Specification

Base Material: Olive Wood

Art: Indigo Dyeing (Aizome)

Filling mechanism: Converter or Cartridge (European International Standard)

Nib: #6 Jowo stainless steel, Wancher 18K gold, KEIRYU/Kodachi

Feed: Plastic, ebonite black, ebonite red

Size & Shape

Packaging

Traditional Japanese Wooden Box + Cartridge & Converter + Instructional Materials