A Koshimaki or Half Under Kimono: Three Nice Panels of Kasuri

early to mid twentieth century
31" x 39", 79 cm x 99 cm

This indigo dyed cotton kasuri garment is a koshimaki or a kind of Japanese half-slip to be tied around the waist and worn under a kimono.

Koshimaki were placed or held behind the wearer and the ties of the garment were drawn to the front of the body where the ties were secured. If you are not familiar with koshimaki they appear to be some kind of apron but it is worn in the opposite way to an apron, by tying it in the front of the body.

This one is in very good condition, seemingly almost unused. The kasuri cloth is abundant and beautifully complex in its patterning--it shows a pattern of abstracted pine bark called matsukawabishi.

The cloth is sturdy and certainly if it is attractive for reasons other than keeping it as a koshimaki, the garment is easily deconstructed: as we know in Japan the re-use and repurposing of cloth was a constant practice so if you would like to participate in this tradition it would be a natural exercise.

The white cotton edging or tie shows ingrained dirt from age and storage, but otherwise the koshimaki is in good condition.