- A black silk haori, with embroidered minogame. Minogame are turtles with trails of algae. They represent longevity. The algae shows that they live and swim so long that it attaches and grows long and trailing behind them. It is a much loved motif in Japan.
- Awase (fully lined). Lined, on the lower half, in the same silk as the outside and, on the upper half, in lighter, lining silk
- Made and bought in Japan
- In Japan, haori are not normally worn with a sash or belt, they are worn loosely, on top of a kimono and obi, but they also look great with a belt and with western world clothing
- May have shitsuke, which is large, white stitching put in by the Japanese to keep garment seams neat during long periods of storage, it just gets pulled out prior to wearing
- These Japanese garments should be hung out to air 4 times per year, if not worn frequently, just as the Japanese do. Hang your garment to air when you receive it too, as it will have been stored for a while.
Condition:
Excellent � some yellowing on the lining. This is just foxing, often seen on vintage silks, especially the lightweight lining silks, an occurs when stored in hot, humid conditions, such as during the Japanese summer. It does not weaken the textile.
Measurements:
Sleeve end to sleeve end: 129cm
Sleeve seam to sleeve seam: 63.5cm
Embroidered Turtles Silk Haori
Japanese haori; a long kimono jacket, with swinging kimono sleeves. Traditionally worn loose over kimono and obi, fastened with a front tie (haori himo) on centre front edge, but also lovely worn with contemporary clothing, such as jeans, skirts and dresses, either worn loose or cinched in with a belt or sash. So beautifully made, with hidden raw edges, that they can even be worn inside out, with the often beautifully decorative upper lining on show.
Much more haori infornation can be found in the Kimono Information section of the website (page 13, "Haori Kimono Jackets - Japan's Secret Treasure"). Worth a read it prior to puchase.