The Shibori

- Categories : All

What is Shibori ?

Shibori is an ancestral dyeing process that originally comes from Japan. The term "shibori" means "to tighten by twisting" and indeed, the method consists in folding fabrics by folding them according to various very specific techniques.

The fabric is folded, sewn or tightened and then dyed. Some areas have therefore less or not at all received colored pigments, so they will reveal real geometric and degraded shapes after unfolding.

The oldest fabric dyed with the Shibori method was found in Japan and dates from the 8th century. It is in the land of the rising sun that this art has been perpetuated.

At the time, this fabric was used for the outfits of the Samurai, these Japanese warriors and the kimonos of the Japanese of the noble class. 

It is an art in its own right that requires patience and experience.

Today, these dyeing and folding techniques are carried out all over the world; in Africa, Latin America or the Middle East.

Indigo Dye

The dye is made with natural indigo, this very special color, in the shade of so deep blue. This pigment is of natural and vegetable origin and comes from the plant called indigo.

It should be applied to natural fiber fabrics.

Shibori Techniques

There are many geometric patterns achieved through a multitude of ways of tying the fabric. The tightening processes are as numerous as the multitude of shapes that can be found. There are simple ones and others much more complex but whatever the techniques used, it's a know-how that is carried out only by hand, in a traditional way. 

There are three main typologies which themselves are declined; foldings, tightening knots and seams.

Our Shibori Vest

We have found Shibori fabrics dating back more than ten years. They have been tinted in the traditional way, with the same process used by the Japanese.

We have decided to offer this artistic, emblematic and historic fabric to our customers in our One to One concept, which consists of making a unique piece from mottled fabrics. It's our way of doing up-cycling. We reused it by making shibori patchworks, which consists of sewing several pieces of fabric together to form a single canvas.

We make this shibori vest in a reversible version, offering a men's and a women's model.

For Men

For Women

The double-breasted cardigan therefore has one side in a shibori patchwork and the other side in a lighter and more sober fabric.

The women's cut is shorter and fitted, it perfectly hugs the figure. The second side is a patchwork of fabrics with a red bandana pattern.

Share this content