My Japanese Kosode for the SCA

Finally had pictures taken of my first real set of Japanese kosode for wearing in the SCA. I had made a couple of sets before but this is the first set that was really color coordinated and made with all natural fibers. The time period would be very late 16th century. This would be appropriate garb for a well to do merchant's wife or perhaps everyday wear for a minor samurai's wife. The first layer is linen. This is a rather "old fashioned" choice since cotton was widely grown by that time and was preferred to linen because it was easier to process and was less scratchy. The second layer is a very light denim. That's right-blue jean material. It certainly is indigo dyed cotton and is therefore very period. It is a twill but the twill line is not very obvious. I have a few scattered hints twills and other simple weaves were to be found in period Japan. It was not all plain weave! I hope to do discharge dyeing on the blue kosode so it will have scattered white designs on it. Outer layer is a print fabric, not indigo dyed, but the shade is pretty close to what indigo would have been. The print is probably too complex for what would have been available in period.