This is a nine-sun Nagoya obi from Fujimusume Kinutaya, a renowned shibori (tie-dyeing) house. This mokume (wood grain) shibori pattern is said to be an auspicious design, wishing for good health and longevity, taking inspiration from the long lifespan of trees. I've heard that there are fewer artisans with the skills to create these, and new items are becoming less common. You can see tiny pinholes in each stitch, proof of the time-consuming hand-dyeing process. The white color has a lustrous quality, as if it's glowing from within the folds of the shibori. Because it's a plain white background, the three-dimensional effect of the shibori stands out, and it will match any color or pattern of kimono. It will elevate semi-formal to casual wear, such as iro-mugi (colored unlined kimono), komon (fine patterned kimono), omeshi (silk crepe kimono), and tsumugi (pongee silk). As it's a total shibori pattern, you don't have to worry about the pattern placement, and the length is sufficient, making it easy to wear beautifully even for beginners. My teacher at kimono class complimented it very much. I wore it a few times for kimono class practice. The core is firm, so it has a good stiffness and was very easy to tie. Material: Pure silk Length: Approximately 375cm, total pattern Guard processing done This item has been stored at home. Please excuse any folding wrinkles.