2002.31.1

Kimono is pieced lightweight silk crepe de chine. Colors include beige, mocha color, peach color, rust color, and black, all hand-dyed (shibori) by artist Ana Lisa Hedstrom. Lining is purple crepe de chine. To pattern the fabric, the artist starts by machine pleating the fabric, and then ties the fabric and places it in a variety of dye colors. The fabric of this jacket has retained some 'memory' of this technique--certain pieces have a slightly pleated surface. This technique is a contemporary version of a traditional, more time-intensive Japanese shibori technique called arashi shibori (with much the same result)-- the fabric is wrapped around a large-diameter pole and bound once with cord to keep from slipping. Then, the fabric is pushed to one end of the pole, forming fine pleats which create a linear pattern, and bound a second time, creating a second linear pattern that intersects with the first. The pole, fabric and all, is then dipped into the dye pot.

Used: wearable art | Adult | Female