A Shibori Dyed Koshimaki: Half Under Kimono

mid twentieth century
26" x 47", 66 cm x 119.5 cm

This indigo dyed shibori garment is a koshimaki or a kind of Japanese half-slip to be tied around the waist and worn under a kimono.

The cotton is commercially loomed and of a width that is not traditional for Japanese textiles. The cloth is sligtly starched.

A central panel of plain cotton is hand stitched to the center of the proper back of this piece. This is to protect the seam in that area from splitting--the koshimaki  was held behind the wearer and drawn to the front of the body where the ties were secured. The central reinforcement helped keep the koshimaki from splitting in that area as it would have been stressed by the normal, everyday actions of the wearer.

Please note the faint discoloring to the front, center of the koshimaki which is pointed out in the first detail photo after the lead image.

This is a very nice example of complex shibori dyeing and even better that it is presented as an intact garment.