For as long as humans have been around, we have been using our hands and senses to create beautiful and useful objects from the natural environment around us. While the artisans of old may not have ...

NAHA, Japan >> Bashofu, a light, cool fabric well suited for a summer kimono, is a traditional textile of Okinawa prefecture. The production of this unique fabric relies heavily on manual labor.

Image analysis of Bashofu fibers. Top shows a cross-section of an Itobashou pseudostem, showing layers the Bashofu fibers are extracted from. a) is a photograph of different grades of Bashofu fibers, ...

Kana Taira will discuss the history and post WWII revival of Kijoka bashofu, the weavers and traditional techniques with bashofu (banana fiber) still used today, and the bashofu kimono and other ...

OGIMI, Japan >> As light as a dragonfly’s wing, a traditional Okinawan textile possesses a unique texture that keeps the wearer cool even in hot and humid climates. Kijoka no bashofu is a traditional ...

Bashofu fibers are obtained from the Okinawan Itobashou banana plant. The bottom right image is a zoomed-in portion at the white box in the upper image. The arrowhead on the close-up points to a ...