[Now On Sale]Samurai-era “Winning Color” Stoles.[Now On Sale]

Luxury scarves made of Kawamata silk, dyed with 100% natural indigo. Each scarf is handmade, dyed in a color called “Kachi-iro” (winning color) by a master craftsman, and exclusively sold by JAPANDORAKU.

These one-of-a-kind scarves are smooth to the touch and have a pleasant indigo scent.
They are a rare item that will last a lifetime.

The “Best Silk in the East” by Two Leading Craftsmen

The Sato family are the only growers in Japan that have continuously produced the white-flowered Kojoko Tade indigo, known as the first-class “Zuichi” in the Edo period. Hidenori Nakanishi, an Ai-zome dyer from Kyoto Prefecture, exclusively works with “sukumo” indigo dye made from Shirohana Kojoko Tade, supplied by the Sato family.

Nakanishi follows the traditional natural lye fermentation Hon-Aizome technique to produce 100% natural indigo dyed products. The silk used is from Kawamata, Fukushima Prefecture, which has a 1,400-year history and is known as “the best silk in the East”. The textile maker has produced the “world’s thinnest silk fabric,” so thin it is virtually weightless. This has attracted the attention of the world’s leading fashion brands, including Hermes which selected Kawamata’s silk as a scarf fabric in 2017.

The color of 100% natural indigo dye changes depending on the state of fermentation and the number of times it is layered. There are said to be 48 different indigo colors, together known as the unique “Japan Blue”. Among them, a dark blue, which is dyed so deeply that the indigo appears almost black, is called “kachi-iro” which means “the colour of victory”. It was used by Japan’s Warlords from the Kamakura until the Warring States periods (1185 – 1600). This “winning” color was chosen as the color for the stole.

Combining such unique silk fabric with Japan’s traditional dyeing techniques is a perfect match, which aligns with JAPANDORAKU’s concept of delivering traditional koto-mono-waza (the “look and feel” of Japan). We are proud to offer this fine scarf for sale.

The slightly larger size allows both men and women to enjoy wrapping it in a variety of ways. It is also lightweight, so it is cool when spread out and worn, and warm when wrapped in several layers due to its large size, making it suitable for use throughout the year. It is a gem that is recommended as a gift for yourself or for a loved one.