柿渋

Made-to-Order · Kyoto-origin Kakishibu · Hand-dyed in Japan

A thousand years
of living colour.

Kakishibu — fermented persimmon juice — has been used in Japan for over a millennium to strengthen, preserve and colour cloth, paper, and the great wooden temples that still stand today. Each SHIBUI piece carries that tradition forward.

Shop the Collection → Our Heritage

Close-up of a T-shirt hand-dyed with kakishibu, showing the natural mura pattern

Kakishibu: Minami-Yamashiro, Kyoto · Hand-dyed in Japan

Base garments: Vietnam · Cambodia · India

Before & After

The same garment, transformed.

Drag to compare the undyed base garment with the finished piece. Every mura pattern is different.

Long-sleeve T-shirt, dyed with kakishibu

BeforeAfter

Long-Sleeve T-Shirt · undyed base → kakishibu

BeforeAfter

Tote Bag · undyed canvas → kakishibu

Kakishibu-dyed button-down shirt hanging in the sun, seen from the back

Ancient Japanese Tradition

Used in temples,
worn by samurai.

平安時代より続く、日本古来の技法

The earliest written record of kakishibu dates to the 10th century, when it was used as an undercoat for lacquerwork. Long before that, it had already found its way into the fabric of everyday Japanese life — applied to fishing nets to prevent rot, painted onto the wooden beams of shrines and farmhouses, and worked into the paper of folding fans and umbrellas.

Clothing dyed with kakishibu — known as kakigoromo — was worn by lower-ranking samurai in the Heian period (794–1185 AD). The dye was valued not for beauty alone, but for its practical power: it stiffened cloth, repelled insects, resisted moisture, and made garments last for generations. The same properties that preserved ancient Japan now protect the cotton in your SHIBUI piece.

10th century

First written record — used as lacquer undercoat in Japanese architecture and crafts

Heian era

Kakigoromo — persimmon-dyed garments — worn by samurai and court attendants

Medieval–Edo

Applied to fishing nets, mummies (sokushinbutsu), umbrellas, paper craft, and farmhouse exteriors across Japan

21st century

2020: Nara Medical University reports that persimmon tannin inactivated SARS-CoV-2 in test-tube studies — research on the tannin itself, not on dyed clothing

Iron Catalyst (Iron-Black pieces) — Skin Sensitivity Note

Iron allergy risk is low — iron is among the least sensitising metals, far below nickel or cobalt. However, heavy sweating may cause trace iron ions to migrate to skin, potentially causing redness or itching in sensitive individuals.

Oxidation & skin barrier — the iron catalyst generates mild oxidative activity. For those with very sensitive skin, eczema, or atopic dermatitis, this may reduce the skin's barrier function. Wearing a cotton inner layer eliminates this risk entirely.

Binder / fixative residue — trace amounts of fixative used to bond the catalyst to fibres may occasionally cause contact dermatitis. Washing before first wear significantly reduces this risk.

Recommended Precautions

✓ Wash once before wearing
✓ Wear a cotton inner layer against skin
✓ Change promptly after heavy sweating
✓ Consult a dermatologist if irritation occurs

A thousand years
of living colour.

Five pieces, one dye.

The same garment, transformed.

Used in temples,
worn by samurai.

⚠ Important — Please Read Before Ordering

Iron Catalyst (Iron-Black pieces) — Skin Sensitivity Note

Questions we've heard before.

A thousand yearsof living colour.

Five pieces, one dye.

The same garment, transformed.

Used in temples,worn by samurai.

⚠ Important — Please Read Before Ordering

Iron Catalyst (Iron-Black pieces) — Skin Sensitivity Note

Questions we've heard before.

A thousand years
of living colour.

Used in temples,
worn by samurai.