A Zanshi Ori Kimono: Woven Leftover Yarns

mid twentieth century
54" x 46", 137 cm x 117 cm

Zanshi is cloth that is woven from threads either leftover from home production of yarn making, or from broken threads that were purchased from local commercial weavers.  Usually the weft is fed with these random threads while generally the warp is regulated producing an irregular horizontal 'striping'; if home threads are used, knotted slubs can often be seen.

This marvelous, fully lined cotton kimono is hand stitched from hand woven zanshi cloth: notice the irregular, horizontal striping that works its way up the length of the cloth.  This is due to a random feed of weft yarns which creates this arbitrary pattern in the finished, woven cloth.

The colors of reds and blues and the large plaid is unusual and somewhat "flashy" for an everyday kimono: the cloth may or may not have been recycled from a futon cover, as often zanshi cloth, with its chunky, horizontal striping, was used to create bedding.

There is some subtle mending to the kimono and a bit of a tear along the seam in the lining of the garment, but otherwise this kimono is in good, used condition.

A wonderfully unusual, hand woven kimono.

Very recommended.