This is a kimono made of bashofu ( banana fiber cloth ) which was made in Ryukyu Islands ( now Okinawa ). Bashofu is handwoven of fibers taken from Ryukyu basho ( one kind of banana tree ). It is said that bashofu had been commonly worn by people in Ryukyu from 15th or 16th century. Bashofu has thick and bulky texture. This kimono has kasuri ( ikat ) pattern. The former half of the 20th century. In good condition except for a few minor color faded parts. 112cm x 127.5cm

This is a sakiori hanten ( coat ) made of sakiori cloth, which is the recycled fabric handwoven of strips torn from old kimono, furoshiki, futon cover and so on. The wefts are cotton strips and warps are cotton threads. It has hand-stitched sashiko in the collar. It has beautiful natural indigo faded blue from heavy use and washing. In good condition but has some mending stitches and patches. The former half of the 20th century. 122cm x 106cm

This is a boro futon cover which has countless mending patches, wear, lost parts and so on. The ground cloth as well as most of the mending patches are hand-spun and natural indigo dyed cotton and some are hand-spun white one. The former half of the 20th century. 158cm x 190cm

This is a book about meisen kimono design. Mangekyo is kaleidoscope in English and it symbolizes its crisp and dazzling color. It has 220 kimonos with eye-catching and beautiful patterns in full color. Meisen kimono was very popular among young women in Taisho and early Showa Period ( 1920s~1940s ) as a casual kimono. It is a pocket edition and has 255 pages. Only written in Japanese. Author: Miyagawa Takeshi. Publisher: Seigensha. The first edition published: June 6 2009. Shipping to U.S...

This is a boro futonji made of many cotton fragments which are hand-spun and natural indigo dyed and it has many layers. Cotton was very precious in Tohoku and Japan Sea side regions where the cold and severe climate made it hard for cotton to be cultivated. Late 19th to mid 20th century. 98cm x 186cm

This is a kimono made of bashofu ( banana fiber cloth ) which was made in Ryukyu Islands ( now Okinawa ). Bashofu is handwoven of fibers taken from Ryukyu basho ( one kind of banana tree ). It is said that bashofu had been commonly worn by people in Ryukyu from 15th or 16th century. Bashofu has thick and bulky texture. The former half of the 20th century. In good condition except for two mending patches. 117cm x 119cm

This is a short kimono recycled from old kimono with shibori ( tie-dyeing ) which is made of hand-spun and natural indigo dyed cotton. The shibori is made in Akita prefecture in Tohoku district. It is boro noragi ( farm wear ) and has mending patches and holes. Late 19th to mid 20th century. 137cm x 120cm

This is a beautiful boro noragi ( farm wear ) with sashiko ( stitches ) for strength as well as many mending patches. Some pieces of cloth are hand-spun and natural indigo dyed cotton and others are machine-woven. Late 19th to mid 20th century. 96cm x 97cm

This is a boro futon cover whose ground cloth as well as mending patches are mostly hand-spun and natural indigo dyed cotton. It is so worn out that it looks as if some pieces melted. Late 19th or the former half of the 20th century. 101cm x 132cm

This is a sakiori sodenashi ( sleeveless ) coat. Sakiori is a textile woven of shreds for wefts which are torn from old kimono, furoshiki, futon cover and so on. This sodenashi is made of natural indigo dyed cotton shreds and asa ( hemp ) threads for wefts and hemp threads for warps. It also has hemp stitches for strength around the neck and under the both arm holes. In excellent condition and looks scarcely worn. Early 20th century. 63cm x 103cm 24.8" x 40.5"

This is a sashiko ( quilting ) rug or futon made of hand-spun and natural indigo dyed cotton. It has several layers of cotton cloth pieces inside. In the cold regions such as Tōhoku ( North-east ) or Japan Sea side area, cotton was precious as it could not grow, so they bought cotton pieces or recycled cotton pieces for stuffing of the futon. You can see the cotton layers inside from the part where seams are open. It has sashiko ( quilting ) with thick and natural indigo-dyed hemp threads...

This is a cotton Kurume kasuri futonji. It is said that Kurume kasuri was first woven ca.1800 in Kurume in Fukuoka Pref. in Kyushu. Its features are geometric and wood block like patterns and some have light blue indigo color. It was designated as important intangible cultural heritage in 1957, however only a few families are practicing traditional way of produce such as hand-binding, natural indigo-dyeing and hand-weaving these days. This one looks hand-woven and natural indigo dyed...