Uwagi (outermost garment of formal costume for court ladies) with nested lozenge, butterfly and circle design on yellow ground

KITAGAWA Heiro was born in the weaving family of long standing in Kyoto. His ancestors adopted ancient looms(空引機) used in China and were successful to weave karaori weaving in Keicho era, the late 16th century. His family, Tawara-ya began to weave traditional court fabrics in the late Edo period, the 19th century. Heiro produced the court fabrics for Japanese imperial family, cooperating with TAKADA Yoshio who was a producer of the court costume tailors. He also revived an old weaving technique, ra gauze. So the Japanese government authorized him the living national treasure in 1956 and 1960.
Uwagi is an traditional outermost garment of formal costume for court ladies. In Heian period, court ladies wore 12 pieces of uchiki garments under uwagi. Uwagi usually is tailored with double weaved fabric. Butterfly pattern is a symbol of the pure land of Buddhism and preferred by court people.