Katayama Bunzaburo Shohten

In the city of ancient capitol of Japan, Kyoto, Katayama-Bunzaburo has kept its tradition of making Japanese Kimonos for the past 3 generations. Katayama Kazuo, a grandson of Bunzaburo, has turned his family business into a refined establishment by adopting new and modern concepts of traditional Japanese accessories. One of the most renowned crafts in Kyoto is the Shibori technique, traditionally used for Kimonos. Katayama-Bunzaburo has a very unique line of silk scarves, made by this particular technique. Their scarves are extremely soft, and have the superb combination of colors and textures. Contrary to the widespread impressions of silk, they cling to the bodies, and keep them warm without slipping off the shoulders. This is one of the most recognized characteristics that contribute to the popularity of these scarves.

About Shibori

The art of Shibori, tie-dyeing, has been known in Japan, as well as in some other countries, since ancient times. Its long history has been documented in the eighth century collection of verses entitled “The Manyoshu.” References to the process of Japanese tie-dyeing can be found in this collection. In it, a piece of cloth was bound up several times with thread, stitched and then dipped in dyes. The original technique, simple, yet inspiring, was probably introduced from India.　However, it was refined through time, and fully developed in Japan. Shibori has continued to capture the hearts of Japanese people.

During the Heian period (784~1184), Kyo-Shibori, (the Kyoto style tie-dyeing) has flourished among the aristocratic circles, where people competed with their luxurious garments to demonstrate their wealth and power. The most distinctive tie-dye method, Honbitta, Kyo-Kanoko-Shibori, was fully developed by the middle of Edo period (1597~1868). The name, Kanoko, comes from the small and delicate designs that strongly resemble the markings on the back of the young deer. It often took more than a year for the craftsmen of Kyoto to complete one garment, since everything had to be done by hand. For the same reason, the cost of one garment was outrageously high. Kanoko-Shibori was, therefore, banned under the government’s severe sumptuary laws. Just as during the time of Temperance Act in the United States, when people were desperate enough to hide whisky in their coffee cups, Japanese people, forbidden from wearing Kanoko-Shibori, were desperate to wear them. Secretly, against the government, craftsmen would make inner layers of women’s kimonos in Kanoko-Shibori, and beautifully, yet subtly decorate their sleeve edges and other inconspicuous parts of kimonos with it. This brave and passionate will had kept the Kanoko-Shibori alive, despite the government’s sumptuary laws against this tradition.

Today, Shibori techniques are not reserved only for kimonos, but are widely used to create new ideas and opportunities, including different garments, such as dresses and scarves, and interior decorations. This ancient Japanese technique is becoming more and more familiar even to the people of modern times, and has gained much deserved popularity among the most sophisticated people of today.