Each Arashi Shibori Cashmere Shawl is hand-colored by designer Lori Bacigalupi or artisan Ola Molinas. As with our silk clothing, it’s all done in the Kiss of the Wolf Studio.
We recently joined Ola in the studio to see how it’s done.
Dyeing a Summer-weight Shibori Cashmere Shawl
*Arashi Shibori- Japanese Tie Dye
The initial process takes about one and a half to two hours. First, Ola lays out the cashmere, carefully positions it, and rolls it onto a PVC tube. Cotton string is tied at both ends and a strong, thin cord is attached. The rollers on the table help her wind the cord tightly around the tube. After tying off the cord, she pushes down the fabric, compressing it.
Now Ola paints on layer after layer of dye, rolling the tube as she adds color. Here, she begins with red, saturating the edges. After this, she switches to black, painting and rolling until the shawl is completely saturated. The cord and the process of layering the colors give Arashi Shibori its characteristic patterns.
Setting the Dye
After allowing the cashmere to dry overnight, Ola wraps the entire tube in brown paper and puts it in the steamer for two hours to set the colors. She then washes the shawl by hand, removing the excess dye, and hangs it out on the line to dry.
Finally Finished!
You may purchase our Cashmere Shawls direct from our Accessories Page if the colors are in stock. Custom colors may be ordered at no additional charge. To do this, please see Obtain. Always allow extra time for special orders.
The Summer Weight Shibori Cashmere Shawl (shown here) has lightly fringed ends and is 26″ x 80.″ Winter Weight Shibori Cashmere Shawls are approximately 36″ x 80″ and the ends are hemmed. All are 100% Cashmere.
*Shibori is a Japanese textile art that dates to the beginning of the 17th century and Arashi is one of many tying techniques. We ran across a nice article and video about its origins and continued practice in Arimatsu, Japan.