Kiwaku blossoms

木枠の花

The golden parts of the motif, made of silk and lamé, have a highly shimmering effect. The black parts are almost matte, with a soft shimer caused by the luster of the silk.

Motif

ManA lot of obis are adorned with seasonal motifs, making them suitable for only specific times of the year. However, celebratory obi like this one often feature designs that represent several seasons at once, allowing us to enjoy them year-round.

In this rich motif, you can recognise bamboo grass and some of Japan’s most symbolic flowers dancing before gold waves splashing: plum and cherry blossoms, wisterias and chrysanthemums. And in the middle of all this joyful arrangement, there is an element that the sewer I am appreciates a lot: a Kiwaki. A wooden bobbin covered of silk threads. These traditionally used by textile weavers, including obi weavers. I find it amusing that craftmen represent their very tools in the centre of their artworks, paying a tribute to the precious silk threads.

Kiwaku covered with vibrant silk threads in Masakazu Akiyama’s studio in Aya Miyazaki.

Framing

When ordering a Phone bag or a Bumbag, you can choose the details and colours of the motif you would like to feature on your bag. A larger design, such as the Computer Bag or the Weekender, will allow the entire motif to be visible. For example, you can choose to have a lot of black appearing, or almost not at all.