HANDMADE NADESHIKO SILK EMBROIDERED JAPANESE FOLDING FAN | KIMONO ITOKO 伊と幸

Light passes through it. Craftsmanship remains.

Nadeshiko is a remarkable Japanese sensu, bringing together delicate embroidery, sheer fabric and finely worked bamboo in an exceptionally light and elegant form.

“Tou” (透) means to see through — and it is this sense of transparency that gives the fan its extraordinary character.

Unlike conventional folding fans, where the surface largely conceals the ribs beneath, Tou fans use an exceptionally sheer textile that allows the bamboo structure to remain visible through the fabric.

The result is a fan that feels almost weightless: embroidery appears to float across its surface, while light passes gently through the spaces between each rib.

Achieving this balance requires remarkable precision. The textile must remain delicate enough to preserve its transparency, yet structured enough to fold repeatedly along the narrow bamboo ribs. Embroidery adds another layer of complexity, introducing texture without overwhelming the lightness of the fan.

Nadeshiko takes its name from the delicate Japanese pink, a flower long admired in Japan for its graceful, understated beauty.

Across the translucent surface, embroidered nadeshiko blossoms emerge softly between the bamboo ribs. Rather than being printed onto the fabric, the raised threads give each flower a subtle three-dimensional presence, changing gently as the fan catches the light.

The translucent pure silk surface is delicately embroidered with Nadeshiko (撫子) flowers and coloured in Usuzakura (薄桜色) using Hikizome (引き染め), a traditional dyeing technique practised by skilled Kyoto artisans.

The natural bamboo of Usuzakura creates a warm, almost ethereal appearance, while Kuro transforms the same design into something dramatically more restrained and contemporary.

Usuzakura — 薄桜

Soft, luminous and quietly romantic.

Pale pink embroidery rests over a nearly weightless sheer ground, paired with the natural warmth of bamboo. In the light, the entire fan takes on an almost translucent, floating quality.

Kuro — 黒

Restrained, graphic and quietly dramatic.

Black embroidery and darkened bamboo give Nadeshiko an entirely different presence. The transparency remains, but the contrast reveals the construction of the fan more clearly, turning its bamboo ribs and embroidered surface into part of the design itself.

Discover the delicate beauty of Kyoto craftsmanship with this Tōsensu (透扇子) silk folding fan by ItoKo (伊と幸), a long-established Kyoto specialist in fine silk textiles traditionally used for kimono.

Some objects are beautiful because of decoration. Others are beautiful because of how they are made. Nadeshiko is both.

We chose this fan because its craftsmanship is immediately visible: the transparency of the textile, the texture of the embroidery and the rhythm of the bamboo ribs all become part of the design.

It is a traditional Japanese object expressed with an unexpectedly light and contemporary character.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Brand
Kimono Itoko (伊と幸)

Origin
Handmade in Japan

Materials
Fan Surface: Pure Silk
Fan Ribs: Bamboo

Dye Colour
Usuzakura (薄桜色) – Pale Cherry Blossom Pink

Kuro – Black

Rib Colour
Karaki (唐木)

Size
7 sun / Approx. 21 cm

Construction
20 ribs

Content
1 Folding fan with matching pure silk fan pouch

Care
Handle with care to preserve the delicate silk and embroidery. Keep away from water and moisture, and avoid rubbing or pulling the embroidered surface. When not in use, gently fold the fan and store it in the included silk pouch in a cool, dry place away from prolonged direct sunlight.

Shipping
Shipped directly from the UK warehouse.