Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Japanese Retro

中原淳一 Junichi Nakahara
I started digging out an old favorite of mine from my closet this week. Tsumami kanzashi. These are pretty widely known these days, but back when I first got started with them there used to be only around 3 pages of google images if you searched in English. In fact, after I taught myself how to make them back in 2002, they were actually the first things I sold, and how my entire clothing label got it's start!

For those who don't know much about them, tsumami kanzashi are a traditional Japanese style of hair ornament made from folded silk. Some big, some small, all lovely! I actually have a pretty big collection of these pins, and found that vintage hair styles work really well with the them (especially 1940's hair)  these silk flowers are also a wonderful alternative to the regular flower clip we all love so much!


Even if you're faithful in your love of regular pin up flowers clips, you can bring in a little of that tsumami magic by matching your hair flowers to the ones you see blooming in the current season. Apprentice geisha pick theirs based on a calender of appropriate motifs for each month. Coordinating with the environment like this makes you look as fresh and precious as the flowers themselves.

Although I haven't sold kanzashi in a good few years, it's still possible to hunt them down, I especially love the ones made with fine silks and rice starch over the sewn ones a lot of crafters make these days. They are labor intensive to make, and certainly not cheap to buy, but certainly another option for true hair flower enthusiasts!


My kanzashi collection site Kanzashi❤core (in need of updating) has a ton of photos of this type of hair ornament, as well as a tutorial on how to make your own! I'm looking to get back into making them again and finishing off my seasonal kanzashi collection/calender. Dusting off these pretty old pins is giving me just the inspiration to do that!


8 comments:

  1. This is funny because I was just looking at your kanzashi on flickr the other day.

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    1. ha! it's funny how we all started thinking about them again at the same time!

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  2. And I just sent a bunch of people on Offbeat Bride to your Kanzashi Core for a tutorial and beautiful examples. :)
    Still so sad that I never got to snag one of your lovely kanzashi.

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    1. I remember the last few updates were really crazy, and everything sold out in just a few minutes. I really do need to spend some time on the Kanzashi❤core site. It was always such a labor of love and it seems sad for it to have been left behind somewhat. Thanks so much for sending people over though! I'm going to get some supplies in and make sure there's more for them to see now!

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    2. I think I was around for your last two or three updates, and I remember each one I clicked was sold out pretty much as soon as they went up! I'm sure they're much-cherished in their homes. :)

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  3. You have one of the most beautiful and creative kanzashi collections ever! I also deeply regret never having been able to purchase your Purple Mum; I fell in love with it at first sight and still cannot forget it.

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    1. I was looking at that page and wondering where all those pins went like the purple chrysanthemum? "Dream of Ume" is the one I keep wishing I had kept, I always hope it ended up with a really caring home.

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  4. "Dream of Ume" went to me! It's currently in the hands of a dear friend who has hair that can manage a comb better than my thin, fine hair. I hope it's been loved and cared for... I'm sorry/feeling guilty to see that you're missing it. I know that feeling all too well.

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