Kyoto Kanoko Shibori

Shaped resist tie-dyeing, or shibori has been carried out for over a thousand years in Japan and was used for the patterns on court dress. It is known as kanoko shibori, or literally "fawn spot tie-dyeing" because of its resemblance to the spots on a young fawn. From the Muromachi period (1333-1568) through to the beginning of the Edo period (1600-1868), the tsujigahana style of dyeing was extremely popular but by the middle of the Edo period, Kanoko shibori reached its Golden Age. Since then the skills of the shibori craftsman and woman have been passed on unfailingly from one generation to the next.

There are no other examples of tie-dyeing where the ties are as fine and accurate as they are in the kanoko shibori techniques known as hitta shibori and hitome shibori or have such a distinctive three dimensional quality. Patterns are expressed using a combination of the individual qualities of each technique. Kanoko shibori is used to create patterns on kimono cloths and obi sashes of different types as well as for a variety of other products including wall-hangings and various interior articles. The craft's ancient traditions are being sustained by 165 firms employing 3,275 people, 74 of whom are government recognized Master Craftsmen.