Japanese Haori-himo | Haori Accessories | Braided Clasp

In Japan, a braided clasp used to close a Haori jacket, (overcoat), is called haori-himo, and is used by both women and men. The Haori is worn over a kimono to not only complete the ensemble but to protect the kimono. The haori-himo are made to secure the jacket, and to allow parts of the kimono to remain visible. The better the “hand” or “feel” of the haori-himo, (handmade being noticeably softer), the higher quality of the braided clasp.

Haori-himo are detachable from the jacket, and interchangeable, to give varied interest. Typically, the braided ties show some fading, as fibers, (cotton and silk), and the type of dye used, hold wear differently, so variation from fading of the color is common. As the Haori ages, haori-himo are retained for further use because they are considered quite valuable because of the craftsmanship and design. It is not unusual for a person to have numerous haori-himo for change-out for they were considered not only a functional, but a decorative element as well. Some haori-himo incorporate gold and silver threads, while men’s ties may use precious materials such as jade and ivory to highlight them (see last image for how Haori-himo are used).

The haori-himo pictured are being sold in a set of five pairs, (5), and are unused. They average approximately 7-0” in length.

Additional Information —
“Geisha were the first women to wear haroi over kimono. During the late 17th/c, geisha from the area of Fukagawa in Edo, (Tokyo), adopted the haori. Until then these were an item for male formal-ware, and for the geisha it became a bit of daring masculine chic. Much later, the haori was taken up as fashion for ordinary women, and during the 1910s and 1920s, three-quarter length haori were an important accessory to the kimono ensemble. By then of course, women’s haori made no statement other than as bourgeois fashion. Geisha had long since ceased wearing the haori as part of their wardrobe.” (For more information see Kimono: Fashioning Culture by Liza Dalby, p.342 where this quote was taken.)