Lover birds

Motif

The crane, Tsuru 鶴, is a very popular motif in kimono culture. It is regarded as an auspicious symbol representing longevity and prosperity; it carries a message of congratulations. This is why several obi in this collection often represent a crane, since they would be worn for weddings. When a couple of cranes are represented, they can also represent the longevity of the couple or convey wishes for peace and prosperity within the family.

Detail

The cranes represented on this obi have their mouth open. It is said that traditionally, if the birds are represented with an open mouth on a garment, the woman wearing it is unmaried. I am not sure if this custom still applies as I saw some Maiko (Geisha aprentices in Kyoto) wearing obi with birds having their mouth closed. When I saw that I thought that either the rule is not really followed (because a Maiko or her dresser would know more than me) or it is still in use, and the meaning of it is that she wishes not to be bothered, as Maiko are requested not to involve in a romantic relationships during their training periods. I like to think it is the second option but who knows…

Composition

silk & flat lamé golden thread

Framing

The motif is composed of the same birds couple repeating on the obi but they have four different colours. When ordering a bag, especially a small bag such as a phone bag or a bumbag, please indicate which colour you would like to feature the most on your bag. For a larger bag such as a Weekender, the whole motif can be displayed.