Karaori (Nô Costume)

This kimono is composed of many dyed silk strips woven together to create vibrant and differing sections of gold and blue. The strips are woven together with gold thread, which is also featured in the embroidered designs of leaves that cover the garment. The Kimono is heavily saturated with gold, and the second most common color is a very vibrant and deep blue. This particular kimono, because the design is so intricate and complicated, would have been very labor intensive and expensive. Strips of fabric would need to be separately dyed and stitched together, and then hand embroidered with the designs. This work, combined with the quality of materials, would have made this a very expensive garment, afforded only by the richest members of society. Because the kimono lacks royal motifs, it most likely belonged to a woman of a samurai family. The inclusion of gold thread indicates this kimono likely did not belong to anyone outside the ruling classes. Eva-Grace Petrie. Image from Art Institute of Chicago.