A Small Patched Vest: Niko Niko Kasuri

early to mid twentieth century
24" x 14", 61 cm x 35.5 cm

This is a beautiful, lightly padded cotton vest whose outside is a kind of kasuri called Niko Niko. This kasuri type was popular in the early to middle part of the twentieth century in Japan.

The cotton has some nicks and tears and it is also repaired as can be seen on the lovely patch on the back and on the even lovelier patched lining. 

The small gussets at the sides of the vest have come undone and they will need repair, but the vest or sodenashi as it is referred to in Japan is still quite durable, despite its slight condition issues. And certainly it holds a lot of charm in its design and in the fabric choices used to hand stitch this garment together.