A furoshiki is a square cloth used in Japan to wrap and carry things, in an age long before shopping bags. This one was dyed with indigo and woven in cotton somewhere between the Taisho and early Showa periods, and one corner is marked with the katakana character ヨ (yo). That mark was almost certainly a household or shop identifier, the way a family named what belonged to them, and it is the detail that makes this cloth unmistakably one specific object rather than a generic textile.

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The indigo is still strong. Natural indigo does not simply fade, it shifts, and a cloth like this keeps changing for as long as it is used and washed. That slow evolution is the reason indigo textiles are collected rather than consumed, and the reason a hundred-year-old piece can still be the newest thing in a room.

Japanese indigo cloth of this age has become genuinely sought after among collectors and designers outside Japan, for the depth of the dye and for the fact that no factory made it this way. Use it for wrapping, hang it as a panel of textile art, drape it over furniture, or cut into it for a remake project.

One piece only. This is a genuine vintage textile, and no second example exists. Once it is gone, it will not return to the store.

Product Details

• Era: Taisho to early Showa period (1920s–30s)
• Material: Cotton
• Dye: Indigo
• Detail: Katakana character ヨ (yo) marked in one corner

Size

• Approx. 132 cm × 132 cm (approx. 51.9 in × 51.9 in)

Please allow for slight measurement discrepancies.

Condition

There are holes, stains, and areas where the fabric is weakened. This is a vintage item and may not be suitable for those unfamiliar with or sensitive to antique materials. Please examine all photos carefully before purchasing.

The item has been washed twice. Please be aware that it retains a characteristic vintage scent. Refunds or exchanges are not accepted in case of damage or odour returning after further washing or use. We kindly ask that only those who understand the nature of vintage textiles place an order.

The item will be shipped compressed, which may result in wrinkles.

Buying From Japan

Every piece at NAMBA SHOUTEN is sourced, inspected, photographed, and shipped by us from Japan. We describe condition honestly, including the flaws, because a vintage textile that hides its history is not worth owning. Orders ship worldwide with tracking.

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