Japanese textiles have been carefully cherished and preserved as family heirlooms for centuries. The history of Japanese textiles can be traced to the 18 th century when the capital Japan was shifted from Kyoto to Tokyo. The elaborate and opulent designs, patterns and colors of Japanese textiles have made them very popular all over the world.
The rich cultural heritage of Japan is reflected through the style, color and motif of the garments woven in delicate tones. The surface design of the traditional Japanese textile is quite unique and immediately recognizable. If you have a brief view of the Japanese textile it will reveal the fact that the various techniques of dyeing reached great heights of complexity and flexibility in Japan.
There are four main fibers used in Japanese textiles: hemp, ramie, cotton and silk. The former two fibers are considered to be excellent for the summer months. Silk is considered to be the most aristocratic textile in Japan as it was the pillar of Japanese export trade for centuries. Clothing design evolved, throughout Japanese History, into an exquisite art form that subtly conveys their innate sense of elegance and style. The unique quality of Japanese textile is achieved through the skills of individual artisans who either hand wove, hand dyed and painted, or hand embroidered each piece to suit the tastes of the fashion conscious individuals. These labor intensive efforts were reflected through meticulous, time consuming, artistic detail, in addition to the use of such priceless metals as gold, platinum and silver. That is the reason why Japanese textiles are considered to be museum quality, one of a kind and increasingly rare.
