MUA-INN

Category: Accessories

Mua-inn (Jute) is a signature plant of Taichung. Originally grown as an industrial fiber for rice bags during the Japanese colonial period, it evolved into a unique local dish through a labor-intensive process of kneading and rinsing to remove its natural bitterness. In modern Taichung, this traditional culture is gradually disappearing. My connection to Mua-inn began at my parents' cafe, where they incorporate it into modern cuisine. While participating in the manual preparation—separating tender leaf tissue from tough veins—I observed how the sap leaves deep green stains on the skin. This inspired me to explore Mua-inn’s potential as a natural dye for leather. My design proposal focuses on the structural "separation of leaf and vein," translating this traditional manual labor into the aesthetic and functional elements of bag design. By bridging the gap between historical industrial fiber and contemporary craft, I aim to preserve my personal heritage and introduce the unique narrative of Mua-inn to a wider audience through honest, nature-inspired design.