A Tenugui is a hand-dyed rectangular cloth traditionally used in Japan as functional everyday housewares/garments. It can be used as a kitchen towel, hand towel, headband, scarf, etc.
This tenugui features Japanese anime characters, which come to life on soft cotton fabric printed with vibrant organic dyes.
100% Cotton
W13" x 35"
STORY OF TENUGUI
In the Heian period (AD 794 - 1192) TENUGUI was used as accessories for Shinto rituals. Cloth was such a precious item that the use of the item was not widespread among the people during the Nara period (710 - 794). From the Kamakura period (1192 - 1333) on, it gradually became popular. In the Edo period (1592 - 1868), cotton began to be cultivated in various parts of Japan, and TENUGUI became a necessary item for living.
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 a certain type of people who tried to win with their original designs on TENUGUI.
Such competition 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 loved TENUGUI and such associations spread throughout the country with TENUGUI as an item that is no longer within the realm of daily necessities.
THE BRAND
KAMAWANU is specialized in the making of TENUGUI, a hand-dyed rectangular cloth traditionally used in Japan as functional everyday housewares/garments. The TENUGUI is created using the "CHUSEN" hand-dyeing technique, which dates back to the Meiji Period over 100 years ago and is still used by today's craftspeople who value its refined textures and visual qualities. Since its establishment in 1987, KAMAWANU has developed more than 500 different TENUGUI patterns, thus bringing new life to the "CHUSEN" hand-dyeing tradition, including the training of apprentice "CHUSEN" craftspeople.
