Itajime Hearts Handkerchief or Pocket Square with Violet Lace Trim

This hand resisted itajime shibori handkerchief is made of 100% cotton. Use it to add finery to a room, tucked in a pocket or purse for emergencies, or as a dashing pocket square.

-hand tied

-hand dyed using fibre reactive dye

-one of a kind

Measurements: Length: 24 cm Width: 26 cm (both measurements include lace trim)

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Originating in Japan, Shibori is an ancient art form of manual resist cloth dyeing that is still practiced in many countries in the Eastern world today. The word itself, comes from “shiboru” meaning to wring, press or squeeze. Resists are created by using a variety of folding techniques, by wrapping on objects such as a pole or rope, compressing between wooden blocks, tying, and specialized sewing stitches. No two shibori works are identical as any small difference in the process can dramatically change the outcome. Each piece of shibori is its own individual work of art.

Itajime or “shape-resist” shibori combines intricate folding with clamping the fabric between wooden shapes before introducing it into the dye. It creates repeating, geometric patterns and is the most common style of shibori. Shibori is a process. This piece has been washed, rinsed and made ready for the dye, the resists applied, dyed in the colour(s) you see here, rinsed, the resists removed and then washed, hung to dry and then ironed. Shibori is a very detailed process; each piece must be treated with love, dedication and respect and as a result, it becomes a work of art that cannot be duplicated.

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The Japanese aesthetic of “wabi-sabi” embraces imperfection and transience through its preference of natural, asymmetrical and simple design. It is a logical companion to shibori, as the natural fibres, manual process, basic yet elegant designs and the unpredictability of the results are integral to the beauty of each work.