Obi

One Size Fits All

Obi fascinate me. No matter how hard I try, I cannot master, or even come close to, tying an obi. I've attended demonstrations, watched DVDs and have even had one fitted on me, but it still remains as one of life's mysteries. It wasn't until I went along to a kimono fashion parade at the Nishijin Textile Centre in Kyoto that I appreciated the range and complexities of this art.

 

  

 

 See what I mean?

Silk Threads

600 Threads

I love obi - those wide "sashes" that secure Japanese kimono. The designs and colours are exquisite and they can be used for all sorts of things. Diane and Ann Wiltshire's "Design With Japanese Obi" is very inspiring.

I have just acquired a book containing 600 Japanese obi silk thread samples which I believe is probably from the 30-40s. The amazing thing is that the samples are all different colours and tones which explains how the Obi makers were able to achieve such subtle, yet spectacular, designs. Here are a few pages from the sample book.

 

Which explains how these were achieved...

  

 

Simply gorgeous.