The relationship between Ai-Wall and Igusa staraw
Only the best quality Igusa Straw, cultivated in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto, is being used for Ai-Wall.
In recent days, imported Igusa Straw that is cheaper than its domestic counterpart is readily available in Japan, however we continue to utilize only Yashiro, Kumamoto’s Igusa Straw for its supreme quality.
Igusa has an air purification effect, is anti mold, anti-bacterial, controls humidification, and its faint fragrance has a spiritual healing effect.
Although Igusa Straw’s effect has been long recognized, due to its fiber content of 30% it was not considered a good raw material for producing wallpaper. Traditional paper making processes require many chemicals and result in significant waste. However we expended tremendous efforts in research and development, which resulted in an alternative production method (Patent application pending) that successfully produced Ai-Wall without chemical utilization, and does not produce waste (zero emission). There is no other wallpaper like this in the world. Ai-Wall is produced with a completely new concept, using Igusa Straw as the main component rather than as a secondary ingredient, and thereby protects our interior environments. Chaya Atelier has an exclusive contract with farmers who only use a bear minimum of chemicals, and employ manual cultivation. We are very proud of our products.
