Sakura-Dyed Tunic

Product information

A tunic 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.

The sakura dyeing 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 improve wearing comfort, the dyed fabric also receives a finishing treatment using cutting-edge technology.

■ A versatile, elegant and comfortable shirt you will wear all year round!

Even when you sweat, the fabric doesn't cling to your body, and evaporation keeps you surprisingly cool. It dries quickly after washing, is light and feels pleasant on the skin. It goes with any bottoms and is easy to style and mix and match. This simple, comfortable shirt is versatile: wear it on its own, throw it on casually over a T-shirt, or use it as an accent color under a jacket.

It's useful all year round, from UV protection in early spring and midsummer when the sun gets strong to winter layering that stays comfortable even if you sweat. The durable tenugui fabric stands up to heavy use, and sakura dye gains character the more you wash it, so please wear it as often as you like.