Haori

Subject Matter:

Kichou-mon are curtain-like room divider motifs that are depicted in the Tale of Genji Scroll and other Heian-period (794-1185) works.

Shibori is labor intensive dying technique in which hundreds of hours are spent tying miniscule sections of the fabric before immersing it in dye, leaving the tied parts white. Shibori textiles are very expensive due to the time and skills required to produce them.

The Haori is a traditional Japanese hip or thigh-length jacket with elongated sleeves that is worn over the kimono. The Haori typically includes an interior lining with a design that is otherwise hidden from view when worn.The haori was originally part of a man’s formal attire, but in the nineteenth century, female entertainers in Edo (modern Tokyo) adopted it as a cloak for outdoor wear in mild weather. By the end of the century, married women of the upper class adopted black crepe silk haori with family crests for formal, public occasions. For much of the twentieth century, the haori has been the standard outerwear for a woman who dresses in a kimono outside the home.

Physical Description:

Maroon shibori haori with dyed lavender kichou-mon (screen room divider) motifs with a white and orange shibori dyed lining with interwoven Oogi (fan) and mountain designs.

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