Sheer Silk Hitoe with Urushi‑Thread Star Motifs

This unlined silk hitoe kimono presents a striking modern aesthetic through the elegant simplicity of its design. Against a sheer aubergine-purple ground with delicate vertical cream stripes, large four-pointed star motifs float across the fabric, crafted using urushi (lacquer-coated) threads that create dimensional texture and subtle luminosity.

The stars appear in two metallic variations: warm gold tones concentrated in the lower portion and cool silver scattered throughout the upper areas, with some displaying a soft rose-silver hue. This distribution creates subtle visual movement, as if the stars are drifting or twinkling across a twilight sky. The urushi thread technique produces slightly stiffened, raised surfaces that catch light differently than the surrounding silk, adding dimensional interest as the garment moves.

The extreme sheerness of the fabric—visible in how the inner construction shows through—confirms this as a summer garment, designed for relief during Japan's humid warm months. The transparent quality would reveal carefully chosen undergarments beneath, creating the layered visual depth characteristic of refined Japanese dress.

The vertical stripes provide structural rhythm against which the organic scatter of stars plays, while the sophisticated purple-gray palette suggests mature elegance. This kimono demonstrates how traditional Japanese techniques like urushi-thread work could be applied to create designs with almost contemporary graphic sensibility, bridging historical craftsmanship with modern aesthetic preferences.

It measures 50 inches (127 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and stands at 62 inches (157 cm) in height.

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