Kimono

The bold colour blocks of this young woman's kimono create a very striking effect, but on closer inspection the patterning reveals a subtle sophistication. The cream silk crepe fabric has been dyed with three, rather than two colours - mauve, orange-red and a pale beige - while some sections are left undyed. The overall decoration of autumn flowers and flowing water has been woven, very unusually, in silver thread which was made from thinly hammered metal sheets adhered onto paper and then cut into thin strips. This thread has a predominantly golden hue, but in places a brighter silver has been used and the delicate design becomes larger and more dense towards the hem of the garment.