438 Men's Monsha Kimono

This is a kimono in a muted, grayish-purple color, reminiscent of a dull mouse gray with a hint of purple. The fabric has a crisp texture, so much so that it might be mistaken for linen.

The material is actually pure silk, not linen. It is likely a textile from Nishijin, Kyoto.

The fabric resembles monsha (patterned gauze) with black vertical stripes spaced about 3mm apart and off-white horizontal lines woven in at intervals of 3-5mm.

Sha (gauze) is a fabric woven using a technique called karamiori (leno weave). In this technique, each weft thread is intertwined with two adjacent warp threads, securing the weft and creating a coarse weave with good breathability.

Because this kimono has open spaces in the weave, it may be mistaken for karamiori gauze. However, the kimono being offered here is not made with the moji-ori karamiori (leno weave) where weft threads are not closely packed, but rather a fabric with gaps created mostly through plain weaving. (Magnified images taken with a USB microscope are shown in photos 13 and 14.)

Measurements (in cm):
Total length (back): 134
Sleeve to center back: 65
Sleeve width: 32.5
Sleeve length: 50
Back width: 30
Front width: 25

This kimono is recommended for individuals around 165cm tall, depending on body type.

There is a stain on the right front sleeve. (See photos 1-5, 9, 15-17.)
The shoulder lining (cotton) is yellowed. (See photos 5-7.)

We have checked for stains and dirt as thoroughly as possible, but please understand that there may be oversights.

The images are taken with a digital camera. Please note that colors may appear differently depending on your monitor.

The haori himo (cord) and white kaku obi (sash) used in the photos are not included in this listing.