Vintage Indigo Yukata Cotton — Square Motif
A striking geometric repeat with deep cultural roots.
This vintage yukata bolt features a bold indigo-and-white geometric pattern—interlocking square spirals arranged in a tight repeat that recalls traditional asanoha (hemp-leaf) geometry and Edo-period design sensibilities. Woven from lightweight cotton typical of summer yukata, the cloth carries the crisp hand and airy drape you expect from warm-weather kimono fabric.
Along one edge, a dark indigo merchant’s mark / shop crest (likely a stylized kanji or kakihan signature) appears intermittently. These symbols once functioned much like branding: identifying a workshop, dyer, or retailer, and helping distinguish a shop’s goods in bustling markets and festivals.
This bolt shows strong visual clues that it was produced using chūsen dyeing, a hand-poured resist technique developed in the late 19th century and used extensively for yukata. The clean, saturated lines, the reverse-side penetration of dye, and the slight organic wavering of the motifs all align with chūsen’s hallmark qualities. The indigo tone is rich but not synthetic-looking, another sign of earlier, high-quality production.
Together, the repeating squares and occasional crest give this textile both rhythm and story—ideal for collectors, quilters, garment makers, and anyone who loves Japanese design with character and provenance.
Details
- Sold by the 1/2 yd e.g to order 1/2 yd, put 1 unit in your cart or for 1-1/2 yds, put 3 units in your cart. Multiple units will be sent as one continuous piece.
- Material: 100% cotton yukata cloth
- Width: ~14.5–15" (typical kimono width)
What Makes This Bolt Special
- Merchant mark adds rarity and signals a specific workshop lineage
- Chūsen-dyed fabric ages beautifully, softening while retaining crisp lines
- A full bolt of vintage Japanese cotton is increasingly hard to source in clean, unused condition
Care Instructions
- Hand wash or gentle machine wash in cool water
- Use a mild detergent; no bleach
- Hang to dry to preserve color
- Expect natural softening and slight tonal shifts over time—traditional for indigo cotton
- Test for colorfastness before combining with light fabrics
Made in Japan's Nara Prefecture, which has a long history of stencil work, yukata production, and small dye houses during the Shōwa period