A Yukata or Juban Hand Stitched from Tenugui: Traditional Hand Towels

mid 20th century
shoulder to hem x sleeve tip to sleeve tip: 53 1/2" x 46", 136 cm x 117 cm

This is a yukata or an unlined, casual cotton kimono that is made entirely of tenugui (traditional hand towels) which are hand stitched together. It might also have been used as a juban or under kimono, but this is less likely than it having been a yukata.

Tenugui are unfinished cotton towels that are often bought as souvenirs at vacation spots or cultural sites, as well they could be offered to customers of a business. Sometimes public service announcements are printed on them, too.

The visual pleasure in seeing all the tenugui stitched up as a yukata is obvious--because disparate tenugui of slightly different sizes were used in creating this garment it kind of pulls in places: the maker had to figure out how to create a yukata from separate pieces rather than from one full
bolt of cloth.

There is one very, very faint stain to the proper left sleeve, front, (pictured) and to the front, bottom area, also shown.

Interesting that the unknown maker enjoyed employed design symmetry on the bottom half of the garment. Just charming.

The yukata is still very wearable.