Tesuji Shibori Tenugui

Hand-dyed with natural indigo using tesuji shibori, made by hand-pleating a binding around a rope, in a yoroidan (armor) motif, this stunning tenugui makes a perfect gift. Often described as a Japanese hand towel, tenugui are really so much more — they are used to wrap gifts, bentos, or sake bottles; as head or neck scarves; and even hung on the wall as decoration.  Tenugui hold an important place in the history of Arimatsu shibori. Founded in 1608 along the Tokaido road, an important route connecting Kyoto with Edo (modern Tokyo), by Shokuro Takeda and a group of eight other villagers from a local cotton-growing region, Arimatsu quickly became known for selling tenugui to travelers. What started out as a simple, utilitarian item soon became elevated by Takeda and others' innovative new techniques for creating more complicated dye-resist patterns, and Arimatsu tenugui became sought-after omiyage for traveling daimyo.  The Takeda family still produce hand-tied and dyed fabrics from thei