This is one of our most favorite maiko Hana kanzashi hair sticks in our offerings. It is a real Maiko hair stick from Kyoto, Japan. It can be worn and looks beautiful on any hair color.
The manufacturing process of Hana kanzashi
1 Dying
Dying the fabrics called "HABUTAE." They would use very vivid colors for Shichigosan ("seven-five-three" festival: It is a custom of taking three-or seven-year-old girls and three or five-year-old boys to the local Shinto shrine to give thanks for their excellent health and pray for future blessings) and slightly more subtle colors for adults.
2 Gluing
Applying glue (mixed w/ water) on the habutae materials using a "Hake" brush. Then leave it for drying. This process is called "Norihiki" and will make the materials ready for kanzashi making. Otherwise, the content will not stay in perfect shape. It takes about 1~2 hours to dry the materials. They can only do this when the weather is just right (Not too hot or cold). Severe sunlight may cause the discoloration of the materials.
3 Cutting
After the drying process, the contents (habutae) are dried and folded. This material is slippery, so they use in-between newspaper sheets. Start to cut in lengths using a round knife then into small squares. They are prepared in many different colors and shapes to make just one piece of kanzashi.
4 Folding, “Tsumami”
Artisans start to fold the cut squares, using a tweezer. The special glue is spread on a wooden board and folded part is placed on it. This process is called "Tsumami." There are only two ways to fold habutae materials. One is called "Maru Tsumami," which means round shape tsunami, and the other way is called "Kaku Tsumami," which has a shape more active and sharp. All the Hana kanzashi hair sticks are made with these two types of habutae parts. The veteran artisans can make as much as 10,000 pieces tsunami each a day.
5 Flower & butterfly
This process is called "Fuku." The "Kaku Tsumami" and "Maru Tsumami" habutae parts on the wooden board are placed carefully on to paper board for making flowers, leaves, and butterflies. This "Fuku" process makes a big difference to the finished kanzashi products. It shows the personality of each kanzashi artisan. The old saying was, "Be a flower to make the flower" and "Be a butterfly to make a butterfly." The artisan's personality & life experiences, whether happiness or sadness, are reflected in the kanzashi. It must be the balance of those experiences, not only the skills that make a great artisan.
6 Arranging, "Kumiage"
The finished flowers, leaves, and butterflies parts dry for a day. When the pieces are dehydrated, they are arranged into a kanzashi shape, wrapped with "Gokuten-ito," a particular thread. This process is called "Kumiage," which means organizing, constructing. It is almost like making a flower arrangement.
7 Finishing
The "Bira" (Shiny silver fringe decollation) and hair stick part will be attached securely to the arranged kanzashi wrapped tightly with "Gokuten-ito" threads. This is the last step and one of the essential elements of kanzashi making process. Finally, "Uzumaki" (Swirl) or rhinestone will be attached to the center of each flower of kanzashi as a stigma. It is the happiest moment when the kanzashi is done. All kanzashi making process is done by hand, so each artisans personality have influenced the products
マゼンタ色の可愛い花かんざしです。成人式にもお使い頂けるほど、ゴージャスでどんな髪の色にもマッチします。 ひとひら、ひとひら。シルクの花弁をピンセットでつまみながら造作していく「つまみかんざし」は、今から200年ほど昔の江戸時代に生まれました。豊国や清峯の浮世絵にも描かれています。
MATERIALS
100% Silk flowers + Metal legs attached
SIZE: Length 170mm、FLOWER DIAMETER 230mm
Handmade in Japan
HOW TO USE
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