Pastel Bamboo Grove
淡い色彩の竹林
Motif
On this obi, tall and slender bamboo stalks seem to sway gently, their movement echoed by maple leaves drifting among them. The motif is intentionally slightly abstract: it is unclear whether the mapple leaves—resembling small pink stars—still cling to the branches or rest on the forest floor. Probably both.
I was drawn to this obi for its subtle and nuanced colours. The bamboo is rendered in a delicate gradation, shifting from pale grey-blue to warm yellow-green. These are hues one only notices after spending time in bamboo groves, observing how light changes with the seasons and the hours of the day. I imagine the artist knew these landscapes intimately.
The maple leaves are not depicted in their usual warm reds, but in a soft dusty range of pinks, almost giving them the appearance of blossoms. In a way, isn’t that what autumn is? Trees putting on a final, radiant display—pretending to bloom—before quietly surrendering to winter.
Textile
Like many traditional Japanese crafts, Shōha-ori has its origins in China and was later reimagined through a uniquely Japanese lens. This refined textile traces its roots to the Ming Dynasty and was introduced to Japan during the late 16th century. It gained popularity thanks to the poet and tea master Jōha Satomura (里村紹巴, 1552–1604, Nara), whose name inspired the term Shōha-ori (Jōha → Shōha).
Woven with tightly twisted warp and weft threads, Shōha-ori is prized for its smooth, lightweight, and flexible texture. Originally used to wrap tea utensils in the tea ceremony, it eventually became a favorite among kimono wearers for its ease of tying and subtle, intricate patterns. Even today, Shōha-ori obi are highly valued, some pieces can sell for thousands of dollars.
Composition: 100% silk
The obi styled and worn one last time before being transformed.
Framing
When ordering a Phone bag or a Bumbag, you can indicate whether you prefer a focus on the foliage or the dancing lines of the bamboo stalks. A bigger design like the Computer bag or the Weekender will allow the entire motif to show.
Previously made in this fabric
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Choose your bag design from the original collection.
