Description
Green is the color of fertility and growth in traditional Japanese culture. As the color of nature, the Japanese word for green, midori, is also the word for vegetation. In addition, the color green represents youth and vitality, and the energy of growth.
Green can also represent eternity, since evergreen trees never lose their leaves or stop growing. Bringing the color green into home decor is viewed as adding the same sense of nature inside.
Techniques
This kimono is made using Kanoko shibori, which is what is commonly thought of in the West as tie-dye. It involves binding certain sections of the cloth using thread - traditionally a type of untwisted thread known as shike-ito - to achieve the desired pattern. The pattern achieved depends on how tightly the cloth is bound and where the cloth is bound. If random sections of the cloth are bound, the result will be a pattern of random circles. If the cloth is first folded then bound, the resulting circles will be in a pattern depending on the fold used.
The dotted effect found on this kimono is made using singularly knotted pieces before dyeing, and is made completely using the artisans eye for detail. Each knot is then untied one by one once the dyeing process is completed.
The shibori dye is carried out on a Tango chirimen fabric in this case, a type of plain-woven silk crêpe that has been produced for over 300 years in the Tango region, located on the northern coast of Kyoto Prefecture. The technique for weaving chirimen was brought to Japan from China at the end of the 16th century CE and became popular in Nishijin: a district in Kyoto known for weaving. Made of high twist raw silk yarn and characterized by its textured surface, this soft and wrinkle-free silk crêpe has for generations been the preferred fabric for making yūzen-dyed kimono.
Care Instructions
