In the realm of woven Japanese kimono fabrics, designs with curves and flowers are unique – especially when combined with diagonals. As a result, this pattern has a lyrical quality that is difficult to achieve in a woven fabric. The stylized garden scene with fencing and flowers in full bloom is rendered in traditional Japanese isometric perspective, and becomes a geometric folly of overlapping diagonals. In addition, the smokey greys and browns combined with soft pastels is a particularly Japanese palette.

In contrast to the sophisticated use of space in this design, the silk fibers are unpolished and minimally processed, with some tiny slubs. The fabric has a nice stiffness that made it a pleasure to work with. And I made the lining using a lightweight silk fabric from a vintage nagajuban, or under kimono, that I deconstructed. The dress form has a size 40 chest, and the size is equivalent to a Medium/ Large.