This striking hitoe summer kimono exemplifies the sophisticated artistry of kasuri textile technique, creating a bold geometric composition that bridges traditional Japanese craftsmanship with the emerging modernist aesthetic of the early 20th century. The design features dramatic vertical stripes in deep black, vibrant coral red, and crisp white, arranged in an irregular pattern that creates visual rhythm and movement across the garment's surface. The kasuri (ikat) technique, where threads are resist-dyed before weaving to create precise patterns, demonstrates exceptional skill in achieving such clean, sharp edges between the contrasting color blocks while maintaining the characteristic subtle feathering at the boundaries that gives kasuri its distinctive organic quality.
The composition reflects the influence of both Art Deco sensibilities and Japanese modernist design principles that were emerging during this period, when traditional textile artists began experimenting with bolder, more abstract patterns while maintaining their technical mastery. The vertical orientation of the stripes creates an elongating effect that would have been particularly flattering when worn, while the asymmetrical arrangement prevents monotony and adds visual interest. The limited color palette of black, red, and white carries symbolic weight in Japanese culture—black representing formality and sophistication, red symbolizing life force and celebration, and white suggesting purity and new beginnings. The close-up details reveal the meticulous precision of the kasuri technique, where individual warp and weft threads have been carefully aligned to create these bold geometric forms, demonstrating the weaver's extraordinary skill in calculating and executing such a complex pattern that appears deceptively simple but requires immense technical expertise to achieve this level of graphic clarity and visual impact.
Its measurements are 49 inches (124 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and 60 inches (152 cm) in height.