Sakura-Dyed Kinsai Raden Pochette

Product information

A certified traditional kimono craftsman from Kyoto created this piece on sakura-dyed fabric by adapting the techniques of kinsai, the art of gold-leaf decoration.

The inner enamel layer of natural abalone shell is carved out and applied as raden (mother-of-pearl inlay) using an original technique.

[About the fabric]

The fabric is dyed with cherry trees from Mount Yoshino in Nara Prefecture, Japan's most famous cherry blossom spot.

Mount Yoshino, with 1,300 years of history, is home to about 30,000 cherry trees of some 200 varieties, centered on Japan's native yamazakura (wild mountain cherry). In spring they bloom on a scale unmatched anywhere in the world, and the beautiful scenery, described as "Senbonzakura" (a thousand cherry trees) and "Hitome Senbon" (a thousand trees at a single glance), has captivated countless people. Revered as sacred trees and carefully protected to this day, the cherry trees of Yoshino cannot simply be cut down, so the sakura dye uses branches removed by pruning. The trees are pruned one to two months before they bloom so that the blossoms open beautifully, and at that time the wood holds more cherry pigment than at any other time of year, making it ideal for natural plant dyeing.

[Sakura dye] is carried out by a dye works trusted by luxury brands overseas. Unlike traditional plant dyeing, its own high-tech methods allow saturation and tone to be adjusted freely, producing a vivid cherry color that adds depth and richness to the simple charm of natural dyes. In collaboration with a company that researches ways to make fabric more pleasant to the touch, the dyed fabric also receives a finishing treatment using cutting-edge technology.

Size / 20cm x 15.5cm x 2cm

Fabric / Cotton

Kinsai / Metal foil, shell, etc.

Natural abalone

Made with natural abalone shell.

Raden with special processing

The inside of abalone shell is carved out, softened with a special technique and used for raden inlay. The shell is then dyed sakura pink.

Taking kimono-making techniques even further

We have further evolved and refined the techniques cultivated in kimono-making to create a variety of accessories.

Workshop

We create a variety of works at our workshop in Kyoto.

About the craftsman

A certified traditional craftsman of Kyoto kinsai (gold-leaf decoration). He has evolved kimono-making techniques to create a variety of accessories.

Specifications