Sarasa Komon – Kimono

What is Komon?

“Komon” is one of kimono types, which has little patterns in whole. And the patterns are regardless of position while homongi or tsukesage has upward patterns.

Sarasa Komon

It’s difficult to define what is Sarasa because of its variety, but we usually say it as “patterns that flowers, animals, human etc. are finely dyed”.
Sarasa was originally created in India and was introduced in Japan through areas along the Silk Road. So many countries along the Silk Road such as India, Java, Thai, Persia have had their characteristic Sarasa design developed.
We call the Japanese Sarasa “Wa Sarasa” (“wa” means “Japanese”).

patterners workshop
A pattern maker’s workshop
sarasa1
Wa Sarasa
sarasa2
Wa Sarasa
sarasa india
There are many areas of production in India.

Dyeing with Pattern Papers(“Ise-Katagami”)

sarasa workshop
A workshop for dyeing started.
sarasa workshop 2
Another area of the workshop.

By changing pattern papers and colors and dyeing the same part repeatedly, fine pattern is created.

From the sketch, the colors are gradually layered and a pattern will be completed.

sarasa_process
A process of dyeing with pattern papers, the colores are put one by one.

The following steps are repeated using various patterns called Ise-Katagami and colors.

edokomon pattern1
They have many kinds of pattern paper called “Ise-Katagami”.
edokomon pattern2
edokomon pattern 4
They apply persimmon tannin on the paper so that the papers become strong.
edokomon pattern 5 workman
edokomon pattern 6
The cutting process is also handmade.
finished product
After many processes besides above, one goods is finished.