6545: 1980's Deadstock Japanese Pongee Silk Tsumugi, 1 yard

When purchasing this at the sale price we require that your total order be minimum US$15.00

Vintage Japanese Textiles:

Catalog# 6545

1980s Deadstock Rare Japanese Textiles:

Tsumugi (pongee) Silk Fabric

Width:14.5 inches / 36.83 cm
Length: 1 yard / 91.44cm

List Price: US$10.00 per yard
Sale Price: US$5.00

Item Details and Description

Fabric History/Pedigree: This is a lightweight 1980s deadstock tsumugi (pongee) silk (new but unsold stock) Details on this part of Japan's special pongee silk-making process can be found on the National Foundation for Promoting the National Costume of Japan website, which explains the natural plant dyes and mud etc. used in making Ohshima Tsumugi, quoted here:

Characteristics: A plain woven silk fabric with pre-dyed scoured threads both for warp and weft. The color is refined and calm and the fabric is soft and difficult to wrinkle. Threads are dyed with plant dyes such as "Techiki" (Raphilolepis umbellata) and indigo (Persicaria tinctoria) with a technique, peculiar only to "Oshima Tsumugi," called "Ori Jime." As a variety, an additional treatment is made to the dyed thread by dipping them in muddy water. It is "Doro(mud) Zome(dyeing)." There are several kinds of "Oshima Tsumugi":"Doro Oshima," "Ai(indigo) Oshima," "Doro Ai Oshima," "Iro(color) Oshima" and "Natsu(summer) Oshima."

Fabric Description Details:

Fabric is slightly translucent and smoother to the touch than most tsumugi of this period; The design is the same on both sides, tiny pixels mesh grid in light-blue on a black background with designs interwoven and same on both sides; Selvedge on both sides is 1/8 inch (3.17 mm).

Condition: EXCELLENT.