Basho-Fu Double Ikat Fiber Kimono

Okinawa is one of Japan’s southernmost islands and as such has tropical vegetation that includes bananas. Okinawan have been producing yarns from banana fiber, or Kijoka, since at least the 13th century. The banana fiber is made by hand spinning the threads from the bark of the tree. It is prized for its smoothness and lightness and breathability.

This bashofu kimono is decorated in double ikat step motif. The Japanese term for ikat is kasuri. Double ikat indicates that both the weft and the warp yarns were tie-dyed before they are woven. Because of the porousness of tied fiber borders, there is a fuzzy quality to them which is cherished by collectors. However, to execute a specific design a high level of exactitude is needed as the shuttled threads of the weft must be precisely adjusted.