Kimono

The basic design layout of this kimono is based on a Noh robe format called dan gawari, a design based on alternating blocks of colour. Here the areas of white are a solid mass of white butterflies, fluttering out towards the edge into the black area along with other pink, lavender, mustard and blue butterflies.

Butterflies were a popular motif in the west in both Art Nouveau and Deco textiles as they were in Japan and reinvigorated in Japanese textile design by cross cultural influences. This was a young woman’s kimono and butterflies are symbolic of young womanhood and joy.