Indigo and stripe.
The two most enduring elements of Japanese rural textile.

This noragi — sewn by hand in the early to mid-Showa era — carries both.
The indigo has faded with decades of use, settling into the kind of depth that no new dye can replicate.
The stripe is steady, rhythmic, honest.
Together, they make a garment that does not need to announce itself.

→ Browse more Noragi in our collection

■ What This Piece Carries

Noragi was not made for display.
It was made for the fields, the mountains, the workshops of rural Japan —
a mingei, a folk object, shaped by the body that would wear it and the work that body would do.

In the early to mid-Showa era, indigo-dyed cotton was the standard material for rural workwear.
Not because it was beautiful — though it is — but because indigo was practical:
it repelled insects, strengthened the fiber, and aged in a way that plain cotton never could.

This piece carries all of that history in its cloth.

■ Why Collectors Are Looking for This

Over the past decade, demand for Japan vintage workwear has grown steadily across Europe and North America.
Alongside BORO, noragi have emerged as some of the most sought-after pieces in the category —
valued for their handmade construction, aged indigo, and the irreplaceable presence of real use.

A piece like this — worn hard, faded honestly, still intact —
is exactly what serious collectors seek.

■ Specifications

Era             : Early–Mid Showa period (approx. 1930s–1950s)
Material      : Cotton
Dye            : Indigo
Pattern        : Vertical stripe
Construction : Hand-stitched
Miyatsuguchi : None

■ Measurements

Body Length (back neckline to hem)                           : approx. 77 cm / 30.3 in
Chest Width (underarm to underarm, straight)               : approx. 59.5 cm / 23.4 in
Shoulder Width (shoulder to shoulder, straight)            : approx. 62 cm / 24.4 in
Sleeve Length (shoulder point to cuff)                       : approx. 34 cm / 13.4 in
Sleeve Width                                                         : approx. 25 cm / 9.8 in
Cuff Width                                                             : approx. 16.5 cm / 6.5 in

※ Measurements are approximate. Minor variations may occur.
Model height: 171 cm

■ Condition

Color fading, staining, tears, repairs, and general wear throughout — 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.