Vintage White Kasuri Sampler. しろいがすり Most of you are familiar with “kasuri” (translated to English as ikat) but these are REVERSE resisted. In other words, it is OPPOSITE of regular indigo ikat in that nearly all the threads are resisted (or tied off) and only a few “flecks” take the dye. So much more complicated! These white kasuri pieces are a kind of linen hemp called “asa,” a very fine thread, and when woven produce a delicate light-weight—almost sheer—cloth to be worn in the hottest, most humid days of summer by both men and women.
*Note: I lined them here with cotton to give strength. Somehow it feels cool just to see and touch them. As with indigo ikat, there are millions of these “splash” designs possible. How they can get the pattern to line up on the loom in both directions like that 1/4” by 1/4” is truly a mystery to me. I am on bended knee to those who did this. I don’t know anyone in Japan who carries this on.