HONBA KIHACHIJYO (Textiles)
The island of Kihachijo got its name from “Hachijo cloth,” and the island was a supplier of silk in the Muromachi era (1392-1573). Since the middle of the 18th century, very elegant striped and checked fabric known as Honba Kihachijo has been woven on the island, and the kimono fabric and obi sashes are still very popular today.
The yellow, brown and black used in this elegant woven silk cloth are distinctive and give it a particular subdued elegance.
Feature
Honba Kihachijo cloths come in yellow, brown and black, and the combination of these understated colors makes more elegant silk fabric.
How to make
The dyes used for Honba Kihachijo cloths are all-natural and created entirely from products on the island of Kihachijo. After the threads are initially dyed dozens of times in a boiled natural dye, yellow and brown colors are applied using a liquid made from the ash of camellia flowers or sakaki evergreens. Black is applied using dirt high in iron dissolved in water. The dyed threads are mounted on a warping machine before being woven with utmost care using a hand thrown shuttle on a traditional Japanese treadle loom.
