A Beautiful Boro Cotton Coat: Zanshi Sleeves

ca. early to mid twentieth century
37" x 47",  94 cm x 119.5 cm

This is a lovely, lined cotton coat, and here the proper inside of the garment is being shown.

The base fabric of this coat is a small checked plaid, while the arms are a zanshi version of the same cloth, meaning that the weft yarns of the sleeves are of leftover yarn which creates an irregular pattern when woven.

But what is most lovely about this garment is the progression of indigo dyed blue cotton patches around the bottom edge of the coat: the placement of light/dark/light/dark blue is just charming, and it adds tremendously to the visual appeal of this jacket.

In good, used condition, this coat is still wearable should you want to try, but otherwise it is a beautiful, every day coat from old Japan, and one that shows that whomever mended it was having a bit of design fun with the placement of the indigo dyed patches on the hem of the garment.

Just lovely.