Hello!
It's me again - Haru, the Sewing Cat.
Today, I'd like to tell you a little about tsumugi, a traditional Japanese kimono fabric that I use sometimes for the Kimono Collection Shinai Bags I create.
Tsumugi is made from silk.
The making of tsumugi begins by carefully dyeing each individual silk thread.
Then, with the finished pattern in mind, shokunin (master artisans) weave the fabric thread by thread, creating each piece with great care.
The process of dyeing the threads first, then weaving them into a single piece of cloth before turning it into a kimono, requires an extraordinary amount of time and the remarkable craftsmanship - skills that have been passed down through generations.
Because tsumugi is made from natural silk, it has a wonderfully soft touch and a gentle, natural texture.
It has a kind of tactile warmth that synthetic fabrics simply cannot offer.
When people hear the word "silk," they may imagine a very delicate and luxurious kimono, something worn only for special occasions.
But tsumugi is a little different.
Not only is it elegant, but it is also known for its durability.
In old Japan, tsumugi kimono were not reserved only for special occasions. They were valued as everyday clothing and were often worn while cooking, doing and carrying out the routines of daily life.
A tsumugi kimono becomes more comfortable the longer it is worn, growing softer and more familiar over many years.
This is where the idea of bringing retired kimono back to life excites me. I think it would be wonderful if, after a tsumugi kimono has fulfilled its original purpose, it could be reborn as a shinai-bukuro (shinai bag), and once again become part of someone's everyday life.
I truly love the time I spend carefully taking apart old kimono and turning them into shinai bags.
As I sew each stitch, I feel a little like I have traveled back in time to the era when that kimono was first created.
And as I work, I enjoy having a quiet chat with the tsumugi fabric that I happened to be meeting through a once-in-a-lifetime encounter (一期一会), sewing each shinai bag with all my heart.
These moments are peaceful, gentle, and deeply comforting.
Some of the Kimono Collection Shinai Bags I create come from kimono still have their original certificates identifying them as tsumugi. For these I like to include a photo of the certificate for reference. Others have lost their certificates at some point, and for these, even if a fabric has the appearance and characteristics of tsumugi, I will identify them as "uncertified". Certificate or no certificate, I carefully choose each piece for its beauty, durability, and the traditional craftsmanship woven into it by generations of Japanese artisans.
I hope that every kimono's story can take one more step forward.
With this wish in my heart, I continue to make each shinai bag, one by one, with great care.
— Haru, the Sewing Cat
P.S. Want to see more?
Words can only tell part of the story.
If you're curious about how Tsumugi is traditionally made, I hope you'll enjoy watching the craftsmanship in the video below.