Uwappari — the outer layer worn over work clothes in the fields.
Lighter than a full noragi. Shorter. Made to be put on and taken off quickly
as the work changed and the weather shifted.

This early to mid-Showa indigo stripe cotton uwappari
carries the logic of rural Japanese labor in its very form.
Miyatsuguchi present. Hand-stitched. Worn, not preserved.

→ Browse more Noragi in our collection

■ Indigo as Practical Choice

In early to mid-Showa rural Japan, indigo-dyed cotton was the standard for workwear.
Not because it was fashionable — but because indigo was practical:
it repelled insects, strengthened the fiber over time,
and aged into a depth that no synthetic dye can replicate.

The stripe pattern is the most honest design in Japanese folk textile —
no decoration, just the rhythm of the loom,
repeated across the cloth as the weaver set the warp.

■ Noragi as Mingei — Folk Craft

Noragi and uwappari were not designed. They were made —
by the person who would wear them, from the materials available,
shaped by the conditions of the land and the season.

That is what mingei means: folk craft born from necessity,
beautiful not despite its function, but because of it.
No two are alike. This one exists nowhere else.

■ Why Collectors Are Looking for This

Demand for Japan vintage workwear has grown steadily across Europe and North America.
Alongside BORO, noragi and uwappari have become some of the most sought-after pieces in the category —
valued for handmade construction, aged indigo, and the irreplaceable presence of real use.

■ Specifications

Era             : Early to Mid-Showa period (approx. 1920s–1950s)
Material      : Cotton
Dye            : Indigo
Pattern        : Vertical stripe
Construction : Hand-stitched
Miyatsuguchi : Present

■ Measurements

Body Length (back neckline to hem)                           : approx. 66 cm / 26.0 in
Chest Width (underarm to underarm, straight)               : approx. 60.5 cm / 23.8 in
Shoulder Width (shoulder to shoulder, straight)            : approx. 60.5 cm / 23.8 in
Sleeve Length (shoulder point to cuff)                       : approx. 33.5 cm / 13.2 in
Sleeve Width                                                         : approx. 25 cm / 9.8 in
Cuff Width                                                             : approx. 11.5 cm / 4.5 in

※ Measurements are approximate. Minor variations may occur.

■ Condition

Areas of fraying present, consistent with age and use.
This is a vintage piece. Please do not purchase if you are uncomfortable with the natural characteristics of aged garments.

Laundered twice in-house. A faint vintage scent may remain.
Damage, scent, or changes after washing or wearing post-purchase are not eligible for return or exchange.
Items are compressed for shipping — minor creasing may occur in transit.
Styling props and additional garments shown in photos are not included.

One of a kind. Once it sells, it’s gone.

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