Nishikawa Chusen Tenugui

The mighty tenugui is possibly the most versatile piece of cloth out there! Tenugui literally means handkerchief in Japanese: “to wipe your hand”, but it is so much more.

A useful and versatile tool, this simple piece of cotton fabric has been utilized for a wide gambit of activities in Japan over the centuries. Yes, you can wipe your face, brow, or hands with it, but Tenugui can be used for wrapping gifts, as a dishcloth, placemat, or even as a fashionable scarf or bandana! With their ornate hand-dyed patterns they lend themselves well to presentation and personal adornment.

Size 35cm x 90cm

About Nishikawa – Based in Sakai, Nishikawa-san and his team make tenugui using a traditional dyeing technique called Chusen, and the process is almost hypnotic to watch. Nishikawa-san expertly mixes each dye colour by eye from a range of several base colours, which means he can custom-mix any colour imaginable! Patterns are blocked off using a special clay, and dye is poured and spread by hand to fully saturate the fabric before the tenugui are hung to dry in a 3-story wooden tower.