This silk kimono is a powerful example of mid-century textile craft, utilizing a bold shibori (tie-dye) technique on a base of robust, rustic jiginu silk. The garment is defined by its high-contrast palette, featuring large, vibrant green and blue chrysanthemum blossoms (kiku) scattered across a bright yellow ground. Overlaid on this field is a dynamic, purple geometric lattice that creates a rhythmic, web-like structure across the entire piece.
The use of jiginu silk provides a substantial, weighted drape and a matte, textured surface that grounds the intense colors. The shibori process is visible in the slightly irregular, organic edges of the patterns, where the dye has bled into the fiber to create a vibrating, painterly effect. Symbolically, the chrysanthemum represents longevity and the sun, while the interlocking lattice suggests strength and interconnectedness. This piece exemplifies the avant-garde spirit of the early to mid-Showa era, where traditional dyeing methods were scaled up to create striking, architectural fashion statements.
While it's in very good condition, there is some dirt on the inner lining. It measures 49 inches (124 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and stands at 55 inches (140 cm) tall.