This is not a mainstream venue; it's not for everyone.  Boro and Ranru are for the true collector of unique textile items and for those who can see and hear the stories that these pieces tell.  They speak of an abhorrence of waste, of creatively making something new from something old, making something from nothing at all.  And they speak of decades of hardship in the home that made them, each scrap sewn with loving efficiency to cover damage incurred by the fabric giving yet one more piece of its life for the one who used it daily.

Text descriptions of many of these items will be limited to measurements and fabric content of the item as much as it may be known.  Pictures will provide most of the description, but I am more than happy to run on at length in email should you desire to know more.    

Boro, Ranru Men's Antique Kimono Haori, Shima Cotton.

Right hand side seam is open at the lower half; not torn, just in need of resewing.  As you can see in the right hand photo, the collar strip has frayed apart; this could be repaired or simply covered with another piece of fabric to lend even more charm to this piece.  Liner is solid indigo blue cotton and the shell is fine shima cotton in indigo and brown.  The color in person is more blue when close, more brown at a distance.  Frays on some areas at seams and cuffs, the garment is strangely still structurally sound and would be wearable with little effort.  I have priced it as patch fabric, however. 

B18 Boro Noragi Haori $40.00

Material: Cotton
Condition: Good Antique Condition
Color: Blue
Size:
•Length: 39"
•Width: 50"
•Sleeve: 18" tapering to 7"
•Shoulder: 22" 

Boro, Ranru Antique Japanese Futon Cover, Six Panels.

Hand-sewn, patched, torn, multiple patterns and solids of indigo cotton, shima and kasuri cotton too.  The check pattern and the area of 'arrow' pattern seen at the top edge are woven too, not dyed.  Awesome piece to use as is, to finish patching or to separate into the six panels for other uses. 

B19 Boro Ranru Futon Cover, Six Panels.
Material: Cotton
Condition: Boro, Ranru
Color: Indigo & etc.
Size: Approximately 148" x 156" 

SOLD B17 Antique Kimono Haori Boro Kasuri Ranru Ikat Indigo. 

It's hard to know where to start describing this one; it is entirely wearable; the first set of photos shows the garment reversed to display the solid indigo of the inside and to show the hand stitching for the large shima patch on the outside of the back of the jacket.  I believe the patch provides decoration only; I can't see any structural reason for it to be there.  The pattern of the exterior collar strip appears to me to be dyed, not woven and possibly dyed by way of rice paste resist technique, but don't quote me on that last.  There are many skillful repairs and some reinforcements that are less skillful, which to me indicates the probability of more than one wearer.  All things being considered, it is a very sound jacket that will provide the owner with years and years of enjoyment and I believe that these marvelous pieces only get more attractive over time rather than less so.  If you don't buy any other cotton garment this year, buy this one; if you don't. I certainly will. 

B17 Boro Haori $275.00
Material: Cotton
Color: Indigo & White With Shima
Condition: Boro, Ranru
Entire Width: 51"
Body Width: 25"
Sleeve Vertical: 21"
Length: 35"

B16 Antique Kimono Mompei Boro Kasuri Ranru Ikat Indigo. 

Fantastically, fabulously boroboro!  This is the best mompei through the shop in a VERY long time.  The patches on the front of the legs (close-ups second row) are of course entirely different from the main body of the fabric.  The picture bottom left is a sideways shot of the top of the repaired area on the leg viewer's right, showing the rough hand stitching of this particular part of the repair.  Picture right third row shows a repair that has come open and needs to be stitched again.  Very soft with elastic that should be replaced with either new elastic or drawstrings. 

B16 Boro Mompei $65.00
Material: Cotton
Color: Indigo & White
Condition: Boro, Ranru
Waist: 35"
Length: 27"

B15 Antique Kimono Mompei Boro Kasuri Ranru Ikat Indigo.

Wonderfully boro, with rough stitch repairs of the pocket shown in pictures center left and center right.  The two bottom pictures show open seams that can be resewn; I don't do it in case the end purchaser wants them left alone or wishes to disassemble the garment for another use.  The pink is only visible in the pictures now that you know to look for it; in reality it is rather subtle, so the pictures are fairly accurate.  Very soft with elastic that should be replaced with either new elastic or drawstrings. 

B15 Boro Mompei $35.00
Material: Cotton
Color: Indigo, White, Pink 
Condition: Boro, Ranru
Waist: 34"
Length: 33"

B14 Antique Kimono Noragi Haori Boro Kasuri Ranru Ikat Indigo. 

Holes on both shoulders in the shell; big one on wearer's right, small one on left.  Very very soft from repeated washing and incredibly comfy, I think the damage to this one was accomplished by an accident rather than from dry rot or some other similar source.  The yellow in this one just straight refused to be photographed, but it is there.  Picture top right shows the dramatic fade across the upper back; this is caused by the wearer's sweat.  White cotton shoulder liner; patch the holes with a different ikat or just leave them there; the structure of the garment is still sound enough for wearing.

B14 Boro Noragi $55.00
Material: Cotton
Color: Indigo, White, Pink, Yellow
Condition: Boro, Ranru
Entire Width: 48"
Body Width: 22"
Sleeve Vertical: 9"
Length: 25"

B13 Antique Kimono Noragi Haori Boro Kasuri Ranru Ikat Indigo. 

Fantastic ball pattern makes this one a must have piece.  Hand stitching is evident, the lining has a faint pattern from what was most likely a seed or flour sack.  Pay particular attention to the photo top right showing the back of the garment; see where one of the balls is flat on top?  There is no seam here, just this odd place where the pattern is broken; close up picture bottom right.  Arrows in the pattern are pink and yellow; notice the fading of these colors across the upper back and shoulders.  Structurally sound, very soft and utterly charming.

B13 Boro Noragi $85.00
Material: Cotton
Color: Indigo, White, Pink, Yellow 
Condition: Boro, Ranru
Entire Width: 49"
Body Width: 23"
Sleeve Vertical: 9 1/2"
Length: 28 1/4"

SOLD B12 Antique Kimono Noragi Haori Boro Kasuri Ranru Ikat Indigo. 

This one has a nicely frayed collar and there is a smudge on the right sleeve.  The lining is tenugui with great kanji; the garment is soft from washing and structurally sound. 

B12 Boro Noragi $75.00
Material: Cotton
Color: Indigo & White
Condition: Boro, Ranru
Entire Width: 44"
Body Width: 22"
Sleeve Vertical: 8" - 6"
Length: 27"

Boro Ranru Kasuri Futon Panels Indigo Cotton.

This piece measures 37 1/4" x 68 3/4".  It is three panels, measuring 12 1/4", 13 1/2", 11 1/2".  I have tried my best with the 21 pictures to show as many individual mends as possible, and to show the various fabrics close up so that you can see the patterns which are numerous.  These pieces are useful as floor cloths, table covers, wall hangings, window treatments, casual wraps to wear with jeans, and a host of other uses can be thought of, I am sure.  This piece is $45.00.

Boro Futon #1, Shima & Solid Indigo Cotton.

This one is not batted; it is the solid Indigo blue cotton on one side and the Shima cotton on the other side.  Minor amounts of mending and repairing, it measures 64" x 69 1/4".  $195.00.

Boro Boro Ranru Futon #2, Ranru Indigo Shima Kasuri Ikat Cotton.

I believe that this one gets its weight from numerous layers of patches rather than from any batting.  It is the weight of an antique quilt and has some fantastic pieces.  A lot of the damage you see is pieces that have come partially unsewn and need to be tacked down again.  When you look at the hole in the center, you will see what I mean by mulitple layers of patches instead of cotton padding for the interior.  It would take less work with a needle than you think to make this piece useful again as a futon cover; that and just a few scraps of kasuri would do it in truth.  This one measures 64" x 65" and is $235.00.

This one is mostly a question of sewing flaps down rather than doing any really significant restoration work.  The largest and heaviest of the three, it measures 67" x 67" and is an absolute treasure in my opinion.  I hope you will think so too!  $275.00.