Today I spent some time looking through a few shibori kimono.
Shibori is a traditional Japanese dyeing technique where the fabric is tied, stitched, or folded before dyeing. The process creates small textured patterns across the surface of the cloth.
What makes shibori so special is the amount of work involved. Each tiny shape you see in the fabric was created by hand before the dyeing process. Thousands of small bindings can be used on a single garment.
Because of this, shibori kimono have a unique texture and depth that is difficult to reproduce with modern printing techniques.
When you see one up close, the surface almost feels alive with small variations in colour and shape.
Pieces like these remind me how much patience and skill traditional textiles required.