Winter Kimono In Damask Silk (awase) In Powder Pink And Fuchsia – Japan, 20th Century

A kimono for the cold season (type Awase), with a particularly heavy and dense weave. This ceremonial garment is distinguished by the high technical quality of its weave and its substantial weight, characteristics of finely crafted pieces designed to drape magnificently.

The garment’s aesthetic is based on a striking chromatic and textural contrast between the understated pastel tones of the exterior and the vibrancy of its multi-layered lining.

• The Outer Fabric (Rinzu Silk): Entirely crafted from a rich damask silk crepe (Rinzu) in a candy pink/pale pink shade. The exceptionally crisp Jacquard weave features a repetitive, all-over pattern of open fans (Ōgi). In Japanese iconography, the fan is a major symbol of good fortune (Suehirogaru): its shape, which widens toward the top, evokes blossoming, future prosperity, and the unfolding of good luck.

• The Inner Lining (Layered Effect): The lower part of the garment, as well as the inner cuffs of the long sleeves, reveal a damask silk in a particularly saturated fuchsia/magenta. This silk features its own woven pattern of interlocking geometric diamonds (Hishimon), a traditional symbol of vitality.

• The Internal Gradient (Bokashi): Beneath the first layer of white lining lies a panel of silk dyed with a gradient (bokashi) transitioning from a vivid coral red to pure white, highlighting the attention to detail that is invisible at first glance, in keeping with the codes of Japanese aristocratic luxury.

• Material: High-density natural silk (outer fabric, interlining, and linings).

• Type: Awase (fully lined kimono for winter).

• Technique: High-precision mechanical Jacquard weaving (Rinzu) and gradient dyeing on the linings.

• Period: 20th century (mid-century, Shōwa period).