The magic of Kasuri lies in the intentional blur, known in Japanese as the Ikat technique.

• The Technique: Bundles of yarn are tightly wrapped at precisely calculated points, preventing dye from penetrating these sections during the dyeing process (resist dyeing method).
• The Effect: During weaving, the dyed sections must meet exactly. Since this is never mathematically perfect by hand, the characteristic, soft transitions emerge.
• The Feel: Kasuri fabrics are often hand-woven or produced on old looms, which gives them an organic, almost living texture.

The term is derived from the Japanese word kasureru, which means "scratched" or "blurred". This perfectly describes the visual appearance of the patterns, which have no hard edges but instead gently blend into the background fabric. It symbolizes the human touch in the manufacturing process – no two pieces are exactly alike.

In printing, the pattern is applied to the finished fabric afterwards. In Kasuri, the pattern is the fabric itself. Since the yarn is dyed through, the design is identical on both the front and back. Furthermore, the design remains even after years of wear and washing, instead of peeling off.

Since our Kasuri fabrics are woven in the traditional Japanese width of 40 cm, you need to think differently when purchasing. As you often have to place pattern pieces side by side instead of one below the other, the required meterage increases significantly.

Guidelines for your project:

• Classic shirt: approx. 8.00 m – 10.00 m
• Noragi jacket: approx. 9.00 m – 11.00 m
• Scarf: approx. 1.50 m – 2.00 m
• Small bag/pouch: approx. 1.00 m – 1.50 m

This corresponds to the historical standard of Japanese looms. This width allows garments (such as kimonos or noragis) to be constructed with almost no waste. Less work is done with curves, and more with adjoining fabric panels.

Yes! Due to the 40 cm width, you should lay out your pattern on a surface exactly 40 cm wide beforehand to determine the exact length. Be aware that for wide pattern pieces (e.g., a back), you may need to plan a center seam to join two fabric panels. However, this is precisely what gives your garment that authentic Japanese look.

Not necessarily, but it does demand respect for the pattern. Since the "blurry" motifs are the highlight, you should pay attention to how the pattern flows at the seams when cutting. A standard denim needle (80 or 90) is usually ideal, as kasuri is often woven in lighter to medium weights.

Since Kasuri is often dyed with natural indigo, we recommend a gentle cold wash inside out. This will preserve the depth of the colors and the contrast of the pattern for decades. Avoid chemical bleaches so as not to damage the organic structure.