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| Colourful Braids - Matome |
With friendship bracelets experiencing a resurgence in popularity, I thought it might be interesting to take a look at the Japanese art of Kumihimo.
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| wafuku.ko-bo-hisae |
While this braiding technique began as a type of finger-loop weaving, there are now a variety of looms and stands used to create intricate round or flat cords. Here's a lovely little video demonstrating how a round cord is woven.
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| Kumihimo - Wafu Works |
The most common use of kumihimo is for obijime - the thin woven belts used to tie an obi in traditional Japanese dress. Historically, kumihimo has been used in samurai armour, sword hilts, and ornamentation.
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| Obijime - Tokyo135 |
In modern day, more and more artisans are adopting the braiding techniques of kumihimo to create unique jewelry and accessories.
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| Kumihimo Necklace "The Savannah" - Sand Fibers |
Want to know more? Here's a wonderful article exploring the history of kumihimo and the different techniques used to create these gorgeous braids.
Want to see more? I'm enchanted by the kumihimo found here.
