Sceneries of Japan’s beautiful four seasons are depicted on these Picture Tenugui hand towels, which are traditional textile of Japanese households from ancient times. Their vibrant colors are expressed using the dyeing technique called Nassen.
Since the opening of its international port in 1859, Yokohama became a hub of numerous foreign trade companies. With the growth of the silk export market, Nassen printing also developed as a local industry, and came to be known as Yokohama Nassen. Through the years, the dyeing methods of Yokohama Nassen evolved from woodblocks to paper stencils, and by the early Showa period (1926-1989), its screen-printing method was established. The method allows for vibrant expression of intricate designs without damaging the fabric’s texture, and have been internationally acclaimed as a technique comparable to the luxury silk scarf dyeing method of Italy’s Como area.
The Picture Tenugui of Hamamonyo carries the tradition of Yokohama Nassen to this day. Applying dozens of colors and stencils by hand, the sophisticated silk scarf dyeing technique developed over the years is used to color the proprietary wazarashi (bleached cotton) fabric called Wakaba. Wazarashi textile is quite difficult to dye unless by highly skilled hands, but Hamamonyo succeeds in bringing out the unique texture of natural fibers through inherited traditions and the handworks of artisans.
New designs are introduced every season, with over 3,000 designs total. Frame them and decorate your room anywhere in the world with the exotic beauty and scenery of Japan’s four seasons.