Kyokomon

Kyo Komon is a komon dyed in Kyoto using stencils, as opposed to Edo Komon. Kyoto's stencil yuzen is called Kyo Komon. Hand-painted yuzen dyeing is expensive as each item is individually produced, but in an attempt to express the beauty of Kyo Yuzen through mass-produced stencil dyeing, a method was developed in the early Meiji period using synthetic dyes, mixing the dye with glue and dyeing with stencils, and stencil yuzen was born. The beauty that can only be achieved through stencil dyeing lies in the variety of patterns that can be expressed using stencils and the colorful color schemes that can be achieved by using many stencils. The number of stencils varies depending on the pattern, but the more colors are dyed and the more detailed the pattern, the more stencils are needed, and in some cases, dozens to hundreds of stencils are used.

 

Kyokanokoshibori

This is a type of kanoko tie-dye produced in Kyoto. It is named after the pattern that is dyed and resembles the spots on a fawn's back. The most representative is Hikita tie-dye, which is characterized by dots that appear among the undyed squares. There are also a variety of other techniques, such as hitome, hat, and umbrella wrapping.

During the Edo period, tie-dyeing with a spotted kanoko pattern was at its peak, and the shogunate issued a ban on it and it was subject to control. Today, it is used for kimonos, haori, obi, obiage, etc. When the entire garment is covered in tie-dye, it is called soshibori or sokanoko, and is considered the ultimate luxury.