Gold chrysanthemum crest in a silver hexagon on vermillion obi silk

生地

Fabric

帯

Obi types

There are lots of types of obis, changing with time to be lighter and easier to wear.

We tend to focus on older rather then newer, due to the fabric, but we often have a selection just because it was special.

丸帯

Maru obi

The most formal obi. Patterned on both sides, often heavy with gold and silver thread. A single maru obi can yield several clutches because there is so much fabric.

袋帯

Fukuro obi

A formal obi, patterned on one side. Seasonal flowers, marumon, and gold thread are common. The unpatterned reverse is often used for linings or another purse style, depending.

名古屋帯

Nagoya obi

Lighter, partly pre-folded, and made for daily wear. Single designs are more common.

文様

Fabric- patterns and meaning

This is a sort of inventory and education. If you see a fabric you'd like just let us know and we can see what we have.

Kiku — chrysanthemum

Longevity, the imperial crest, autumn. Often found on formal kimonos and obis.

Ume — plum blossom

Resilience. .

Kacho-ga — birds and flowers

A painting tradition on silk.

Kikkō — hexagons

The tortoise’s shell. A pattern without end; longevity, armor, ceremony.

Karakusa — scrolling vines

Continuity

Utsuwa — vessels

Tea bowls and jars woven into the silk.

絹

Silk types- obi

Nishijin-ori, rinzu, shioze, and so much more. Who knew it could be woven so many ways?

塩瀬

Shioze

A dense, ribbed silk used for many Nagoya obis. Lighter as it is often just one layer.

綸子

Rinzu

The design is woven, not printed, and appears as a change in sheen. We have lots of this because I love it.

西陣織

Nishijin-ori

Kyoto’s tapestry weave. Most of our obi clutches are made from it.

Embroidered gold phoenix on vintage cream kimono silk

見極め

How to identify quality vintage silk

1. Even light
Hold the cloth to the light. Quality silk shows a consistent sheen, not patchy dullness.
2. Sound weft
Does it hold it's shape?
3. Thread, not print
We start with a quality weave. After that we can see if the pattern is woven, or painted or printed. Generally, a printed pattern is not for us.
4. Honest smell
Cedar and time are welcome. Mold is not. We air everything store it in a way that preserves it until we are ready to use it, like it was before we got it.

絹