This boro kimono blouse is so wonderful. The blue half is made of vintage indigo dyed fabric, the sleeve of which is a highly coveted katazome piece. Katazome is a paste resist process that allows the dyer to block out a pattern, thereafter dipping the piece in an indigo vat. When the indigo and resist are rinsed away, the pattern remains. This particular piece is from the early 1900s, and has the original repaired, or ‘boro’, pieces stitched to the back of it. It’s a one of a kind pattern, likely a family crest. The indigo is luscious, the weave of the fabric is tight with a good hand. The other half of the kimono is organic linen which I dyed with rust. Segments of the sleeve have been embellished with Japanese vintage indigo fabric creating a symbiosis with the other side of the garment. All of the vintage pieces have been married to the kimono in the style of boro. There is accent stitching over areas of the garment as well, the seam allowances are all finely finished, the sleeves allowances have been hand stitched. This is a one of a kind piece and cannot be duplicated. Hand stitching throughout. Raw hem. Fine-finished seams. 22 1/2” long x 20 1/2” wide, 13 1/2” sleeve length. Due to its relaxed fit, will happily fit a S-M gal.

A note on vintage Japanese fabrics: All of the fabric is woven by hand on narrow looms to accommodate the width of kimono fabric panels. The katazome pieces were made by first hand carving the pattern in mulberry paper, thereafter the paper is treated with persimmon tannin which makes the paper waterproof. It is then laid onto the fabric lengths, brushed with the rice paste resist, then dipped into the indigo vat. After the fabric