Sarasa Cotton Fabric

This cotton Sarasa fabric was produced for Olympus, Japan, by combining traditional Japanese weaving and dyeing methods with modern technology, to creating high quality colourfast fabric with earthy plant dye colours. 

Machine washable, colourfast, no shrink. This fabric is suitable for clothing, quilting, applique, machine and hand stitching projects. It is a nice addition to boro projects.

Ordering:

Sarasa Fabric from Olympus manufacturing in Japan. it is 100% cotton. Order in 1/4 meter increments (10"x44"). To order 1/2 meter order 2, for 3/4 meter order 3 units, and so on. The fabric will be sent in one continuous piece.

What is Sarasa?

Sarasa is the Japanese term for calico cotton fabrics, which were imported to Japan by Portuguese Sea Traders. By the early 1600's Japan began to manufacture their own Sarasa fabrics and export them to France. The colors and designs used in this Olympus Sarasa cotton fabric are inspired by those imported fabrics.  

The early Sarasa (calico) fabric designs were enormously popular with the Samuri and merchant classes, but because the fabric was high priced, it was used to make small items like tea cosies and small purses. Later as production became cheaper, it was made into kimonos and hangings.