Kamawanu Tenugui Happy Cats [Fuku Neko Zukushi] / Multi-purpose Japanese Cloth

Kamawanu Tenugui Happy Cats [Fuku Neko Zukushi] / Multi-purpose Japanese Cloth

Kamawanu Japan

100% Cotton / Chusen Natural Dye

[L 90 x W 33cm]

Tenugui is a hand-dyed rectangular cloth with a long cultural history of daily use as a scarf, towel, bandana, handkerchief, table runner home decoration or in gift wrapping and presentation. Due to the unique chusen dyeing technique, tenugui are reversible and feature the design on both sides of the fabric. This method has a characteristic appearance due to the fact that the dye produces different shades of colour depending on the weather, temperature, and humidity at the time of dying. Fold, wrap and tie to use as you please. Handmade in Japan.

Care instructions: Hand wash separately & hang dry, may be machine washed. There is no hem in a tenugui so that it dries evenly and quickly. The weft may fray to 1cm to form a fringe.

The History of Tenugui
Nara period (710-794): cloth was such a precious item that its use was not widespread among the people. Heian period (AD 794-1192): tenugui was used as accessories for Shinto rituals. Kamakura period (1192-1333): cloth gradually became more popular. Edo period (1592 -1868): cotton began to be cultivated in various parts of Japan and tenugui became a necessary item for use in daily life. It was around this time that people started to regard it as a valuable item not only in terms of its functions but in terms of its artistic value.Then a contest called “tenugui-awase” became a widespread event among artisans who tried to win with their original designs on tenugui.

Such competitions contributed to the development of new dyeing techniques. In the Meiji era (1868-1912) a dyeing technique called “Chusen” was devised and it extensively revolutionized the industry. In or around the Showa period (1926-1989), a variety of associations were formed by people who love tenugui and such associations spread throughout Japan. Today there are many different tenugui colours and patterns available and people have found many original ways of using them as they please.