T118

Silk shibori haori Japan mid 20th century The haori is a traditional Japanese  hip or thigh length kimono-like jacket. The haori does not close, but is worn open or kept closed by a string that connects the lapels. During the Sengoku period, sleeveless haori were worn over the armour, like the tabard was in Europe. During the Edo period, economic growth allowed the middle class to afford the haori, yielding laws against ostentatious display of wealth by all but the warrior caste; this in turn gave birth to discreet haori designs with lavishly decorated lining. This haori has been dyed using the shibori technique, a popular Japanese, resist-dying technique which produces patterns on fabrics.