The exquisitely patterned silk embedded in these acrylic bangles is stencil-dyed by hand by highly skilled craftsmen in Japan.  The designs are created by using beautiful sarasa patterns from the Muromachi Period (A.D. 1392 – 1571) and a centuries old silk dyeing technique popularized during the Edo Period (A.D. 1615-1867).  Hence, silk dyed in this way has come to be known as Edo Sarasa silk. Although in the past intricate sarasa patterns have incorporated as many as 300 stenciled layers of color, today the patterns are more commonly created using about 30 separate layers.  In Japan sarasa silk is still used for making elegant kimono but the specialized techniques for producing the most intricate sarasa patterns are now practiced and preserved by only a few highly skilled artisans.

Our Edo sarasa silk and acrylic bangles are available in a range of distinctive patterns and in two widths, narrow and wide.  Each bangle is unique because the pattern used is much larger than the bangle.   A solid colored, silk drawstring bag is included with each bangle.  

Note that the wide bangles slide on and off over the hand, so they require a moderately large hand to prevent the bangle from slipping off too easily.  The narrow bangle is slightly flexible and easily fits most hands and wrists.

To see images of the sarasa craftsmen at work, visit our About Us page or our Home page.

Questions?  Out of stock?  Email us.