Silk Vintage Haori Heavily Embroidered

DESCRIPTION

This is a rare vintage silk haori from Kyoto.  Hand stitched, painted and embroidered circa 1970s.

The exquisite embroidery depicts flowers with silk and gold thread.  The images show the embroidery and silk lining in detail.  A unique and spectacular garment.

SIZE

Each vintage haori was made to fit their owner so sizing is unique. This haori's approximate measurements are:

• Length: 76cm/30"
• Width: 107cm/42”
• Width of each front panel:  24cm/9.5"
• Sleeve height 45cm/18”

BACKGROUND DETAIL

Luxurious haori jackets have been worn in Japan for centuries, with a fascinating history behind them and a legacy that has allowed them to remain an important part of Japanese culture and customs to this day. Often and traditionally paired with a kimono, they also look fabulous as part of contemporary style, pairing well with a shirt and jeans. They are perfect for adding a touch of glamour or a splash of colour to an everyday outfit. Initially worn only by men, they were quite plain black silk on the exterior with a crest but with showy linings in silk. Women adopted the style from the Taisho era (1912-1926) to the prewar period of the Showa era (1926-1989). Men’s haori tend to be a single darker colour, often with elaborately decorated lining, whereas women’s haori are often bright colours and bold patterns, with simpler cream coloured linings.

The haori design is a similar shape to a kimono, with a long torso section and long, rectangular sleeves, attached with a straight seam. The haori features a narrower collar than the kimono and the torso is narrower, with no overlapping front panels, meaning they are much simpler to wear than kimono and require no decorative belts.

Silk haori are rarely made anymore. Each vintage haori was made to fit its owner, so there’s a wide variety of sleeve lengths and general size. When worn with a kimono, haori sleeves are supposed to cover the sleeves of the kimono. When worn with modern clothes, however, shorter sleeves can also make a great statement. Whatever the style, haori are great as clothing or as home decoration. 

CARE

Washing at home is not recommended for haori made of pure silk, those with embroidery, tie-dye, or other embellishments as the fabric may shrink or the colour may shift or discolour when soaked in water. Specialist dry clean only.

One thing to remember regardless of the haori’s age is the correct folding technique:

Before folding a haori, remove the tie (where possible). Lay the haori flat on the floor, with the front centre facing up. Fold down the collar. Fold the haori inward at the centre, matching the left and right shoulders, and the seams of the sleeves. Make sure to smooth out any wrinkles! Fold back the left sleeve, so it overlaps the haori body. Fold up the bottom hem of the haori. Fold the right sleeve under the haori body. There are good videos on YouTube demonstrating these steps.