京都蔵
Silk with a second life.
Upcycled kimono and obi purses, made with fabric sourced from Japan
Shop on Etsy
再生
A place for Japanese fabrics to be reborn.
Kyotokura was created to take exceptional antique and vintage Japanese garments that have already lived a life as a beloved garment, and give them a new life as something else. Time leaves nothing untouched. As the garments outlive their usefulness in their original function, we strive to give them a second chance at a full life.
Silk has memories, which it carries with it, and we believe that this wabi-sabi effect makes them more beautiful. Kimono and obi creation is a slow process, and we honor that with our own slow stitching process.
Each item is unique. The motif, fabric, and cut are chosen to honor the pattern, the cloth and the pattern. It is a zero-waste process: the smallest pieces become buttons and patchwork. Every bit of the silk deserves a second chance.
Read the story一点もの
A Selection of Our Current Wares
Each purse is made from a vintage piece that can never be replicated. The intricate designs and details ensure that no two bags can ever be the same.
Nishijin Clutch
$210
Vintage Nishijin obi, gold starburst brocade
View piece
Shiraume Evening
$145
Katazome-dyed purple tsumugi, white ume
View piece
Matsukaze Clutch
$145
Vintage obi, gold matsu landscape on brown
View on Etsy
Benizakura Clutch
$165
Katazome silk kimono, crimson sakura on cream
View piece
Akane Clutch
$160
Vintage red kimono silk, hand-beaded gold frame
View piece
Fujiro Clutch
$195
Lavender rinzu kimono silk, kikkō geometric weave
View piece
仕入れ
The markets
Our fabrics come from temple markets, family-owned shops, and vendors who specialize in vintage kimonos which may have been in storage in a chest for decades. Each piece is carefully chosen for its quality, silk type, and pattern. It feels like they call to us, and we select each fabric that we believe we can offer a new life to.
What those hauls become is listed in the shop.
便り
A letter when we have something new to share.
Occasional notes on new purses, Kyoto finds, and fabrics we believe we can offer a new life to. We write when there is something worth sharing; not every week, and never just to sell.