Japanese Handwork, Made for Everyday Life

Fine shibori patterns and bold spirals. Fabric cut, joined and sewn into a dress.

This Japanese vintage Arimatsu shibori dress brings together the character of Japanese resist-dyed cloth and the tangible handwork of making a garment.

A handmade remake dating to around the mid-Showa period, it retains the traces of the person who shaped it into a dress. Its original garment and maker are unknown, but the fabric joins, stitching, buttons and pocket attachments reveal the hands behind its construction.

Large spirals and white circular motifs spread across a finely patterned blue and white ground. The pattern changes direction where the fabric panels meet, giving it an individuality quite different from the uniform finish of mass-produced clothing.

Three blue buttons decorate the front. Concealed snap fasteners provide the closure, while an elastic waist and pockets make the garment practical for everyday wear.

This is cloth to live in, not simply to admire. The way it has been made into something to wear and move in is central to its appeal.

For those drawn to Japanese vintage through the traces of its making, rather than age or appearance alone, this is genuinely time-worn fabric and handmade clothing, not a newly manufactured retro-style dress.

Rather than seeking the perfection of something new, you can care for and repair an existing garment as you continue to wear it. It is a personal way to embrace slow fashion.

Details

• Material: believed to be a cotton blend with another fibre. Composition cannot be confirmed; please examine the photographs when considering the fabric.
• Era: around the mid-Showa period
• Construction: handmade remake
• Fabric: Arimatsu shibori, a Japanese resist-dyeing tradition
• Front opening: extends to above the waist
• Decorative buttons: three, blue
• Closure: four snap-fastener positions in total. Two sit side by side at the top, with one at each of the two lower positions.
• Waist: elasticated
• Pockets: yes
• Original belt: missing

Measurements

• Length: 103 cm / 40.6 in
• Width across the chest, laid flat: 53 cm / 20.9 in
• Shoulder width: 51 cm / 20.1 in

Please allow for slight measurement variations. Compare these measurements with a garment you already own before ordering.

Condition

There are stains in several places.

The snap fasteners have rust, with rust staining on the surrounding fabric. The button stitching has weakened, and re-sewing is recommended before wear.

The belt that appears to have originally accompanied the dress is missing.

This garment is offered in its current condition, including areas requiring repair. It is recommended for customers who understand its condition and are comfortable caring for and repairing vintage clothing.

As an aged handmade remake, its construction and condition differ from the uniform finish of a new garment.

It will be folded and compressed for shipping, which may cause creasing.

Please refrain from ordering if you are not comfortable with the characteristics of aged items.

We have washed this garment twice. An odour characteristic of aged clothing remains. Damage or a return of odour arising after washing or wearing following purchase is not eligible for a refund or exchange. Please order only if you understand and accept these conditions.

For questions about sizing, returns and customs, please visit our FAQ.

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