This is Matsusaka cotton, an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. It's dyed with genuine indigo, so the shades of color and the thickness of the stripes vary slightly, giving it a unique charm. Because it's durable, it was very popular during the Edo period, and it seems townspeople wore it in NHK's historical dramas. We've created this set to introduce many people to Matsusaka cotton. The white fabric is slub cotton, woven with Matsusaka cotton threads of varying thicknesses in the warp and weft. Some pieces may have imperfections or loose threads. The photos show the fabric layered. We've included photos of coasters to give you an idea of the texture. There are no smokers or pets in our home.