KYOTO SHIBORI

The art of shibori, tie-dyeing, has been known in Japan, as in some other countries, since ancient times. Its long history is documented in the eighth century collection of verses entitled The Manyoshu. In this collection can be found references to how cloth was bound up several times with thread, stitched and then dipped in dyes.The original, simple but inspiring technique was probably introduced from India, and throughout the ages the techniques developed and used have varied and shibori has continued to capture the heart of Japanese people. Since the Heian period, Kyo Shibori, (the Kyoto style of tie-dyeing) flourished among the aristocratic classes, who competed with their luxurious garments to demonstrate their wealth and power. Honbitta, Kyo Kanako Shibori, the extremely high-quality fawn spot tie-dyeing, probably was completely developed by the middle of the Edo period. The name comes from the small and delicate markings on the backs of young deer. It could take more than a year for the craftsmen of Kyoto to complete one garment as they were completely made by hand, and so these items were outrageously expensive. Kanako shibori was therefore banned under the governmentﾕs severe sumptuary laws on several occasions. Just as when the Temperance Act was in force in the United States, and people who were desperate for alcoholic beverages, would hide whisky in coffee cups, so Japanese who were forbidden kanako shibori, desired to wear it. That is human nature. So craftsmen helped women to make the inner layers of their layered kimono in kanako shibori, and to beautifully and subtly decorate their sleeve edges and other inconspicuous parts with it. Thus the technique survived in spite of the sumptuary laws. So today, as shown here, not only Honbitta, kanako shibori, but Hiranui,(plain stitched tie-dyeing), Bai, (shell), Take no kawa, (recently vinyl), which is used as a coating to wrap the parts to be preserved from the dyes, and many other types of shibori, can all be used to produce kimono giving it a new and contemporary feel. The beautiful uneven texture particular to shibori, which is not a feature of any other dyeing technique, is not reserved only for kimono. Young people with open and progress minds use the cloth itself or make it into scarves or use it in interior decoration. Thus this ancient but new technique is becoming more and more familiar to modern people. Please touch the fabric and feel its wonderously soft texture for yourself.

About our company's products

Petroleum-based Dry Clean Only. Please keep Dry as dye may run with excessive moisture. Do not Iron. Steam only.

If shibori shrinkage become loose, put steam iron shrinking shibori as the original form by hand. Donﾕt attach the iron to the textile directly. Just attach steam.

And more >>

Index （Japanese）>>