A Shibori Dyed Yukata: Beautiful Pattern

mid twentieth century
54 1/2" x 48", 138.5 cm x 122 cm

This is a beautiful, shibori dyed cotton yukata--a yukata is an unlined cotton kimono that is often worn in summer time.

This one shows a lovely and boldly graphic design of a stylized stream whose drifting current is carrying gently falling maple leaves. Because yukata are often worn in hot, summer months, they very often show what is thought to be a "cooling" design to foil the stifling Japanese summer heat.

This is woman's yukata and it is in good and very wearable condition. The cotton still shows ingrained puckering from the shape-resisted shibori process that created its rich design.

Please note that on the collar area there is a faint pink staining to the undyed areas: the collar is lined with scraps of cloth and there must be a red colored cotton layer that bled onto the undyed white area of this yukata. A photograph illustrating this accompanies this post.

Recommended.