An extra layer, worn over clothing to keep it clean.
The uwappari is a protective overgarment rooted in everyday Japanese life, once worn during household tasks and daily work.

This indigo-dyed kasuri cotton uwappari dates to approximately the mid-Showa period. It belongs to the broader tradition of noragi, clothing associated with Japan’s rural daily life. Pale blue, blue, brown and yellow-green motifs sit against a deep indigo ground. Kasuri is a Japanese ikat weaving technique that gives patterns their softly blurred outlines. From a distance, the geometric motifs form a balanced all-over pattern; closer, the different colours of the threads become apparent.

As striking as the textile is the silhouette, shaped by the straight-cut construction characteristic of traditional Japanese clothing. A cropped length meets a generous body and roomy shoulders. When worn, the shoulders fall naturally and the sleeves take on a rounded shape. Worn open, the collar creates a flowing line towards the hem; tied, the overlapping front adds another expression. It brings a different balance from a Western-style jacket to a contemporary wardrobe.

Another pleasure of this piece is the cotton fabric, which still has a firm hand. Unlike vintage clothing that has already softened with wear, this garment offers the opportunity to let the fabric gradually settle around your body and into your life through wearing and washing. It is an old garment with a new chapter of ageing still to enjoy.

Bring clothing connected to farming and household work into everyday life today. Whether you are drawn to an old country home, weekends tending a vegetable garden, or simply dressing for a day in the city, this piece can become part of your routine. Rather than buying mass-produced clothing and replacing it with each passing trend, it invites a longer relationship with one garment: a practical expression of slow fashion.

Item Details

Material: Cotton
Estimated period: Mid-Showa

Styling

Layer it over a white T-shirt and black wide-leg trousers to let the cropped body and generous sleeves change the proportions of your outfit. As shown in the wearing photograph, allowing a longer T-shirt hem to show beneath the jacket creates a light, layered balance.

Pair it with faded denim to bring together different expressions of indigo. With tailored trousers and leather shoes, the contrast between the kasuri cotton’s everyday origins and more refined clothing becomes part of the appeal. As the pattern contains several colours, keeping the rest of the outfit plain is enough to bring the look together.

There is no need to assemble a complete traditional Japanese outfit. Simply replace your usual jacket or cardigan with this piece to give familiar clothing a new outline. It also works as an extra layer between seasons or indoors when summer air conditioning feels cool.

Measurements

Length, from back neckline to hem: 58 cm / 22.8 in
Chest width, measured flat under the arms: 60 cm / 23.6 in
Shoulder width: 64 cm / 25.2 in
Sleeve length, from shoulder to cuff: 34 cm / 13.4 in
Sleeve width: 26 cm / 10.2 in
Cuff width: 18 cm / 7.1 in (measured on the side with the elastic removed)

Please allow for minor measurement variations.
Model height: 171 cm.

Condition

There are stains on the lining. Elastic remains in one cuff, while it has been removed from the other.

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

Please order only if you are comfortable with the characteristics of vintage clothing.

We have washed this garment twice. A characteristic vintage odour remains. Damage or the return of odours following washing or wear after purchase is not covered by refunds or exchanges. 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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