Plum Rinzu Silk Haori: Shibori & Painted Hollyhock Design

This rinzu silk jacket  is a striking example of early Showa-era textile art, featuring a sophisticated blend of traditional craftsmanship and bold graphic design. The garment is rendered in a deep, saturated plum-purple silk, which serves as an architectural backdrop for the large-scale hollyhock (aoi) motifs.

The composition utilizes a rhythmic interplay of shibori and painting techniques to create visual depth. The rounded flowers and stems are rendered in delicate pink and cream kanoko shibori, providing a textured, three-dimensional contrast to the smooth silk. In a daring departure from tradition, the large heart-shaped leaves are hand-painted in vibrant shades of forest-green and ochre-gold, with swirling internal veins that add a sense of fluid movement. The entire field is further enriched by a tonal damask weave featuring oversized sayagata (interlocking swastika) patterns, a classical motif representing strength and longevity, reimagined here with an assertive 20th-century scale.

The sleeves have been altered by roughly 6 inches (15 cm) and can be reverted if desired. It's in great condition, measuring 47 inches (119 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and standing at 31 inches (79 cm) in height.