Japan Life Tenugui

Tenugui are rectangular shaped cloths made in Japan with a myriad of everyday uses- as a washcloth, towel, headband or for wrapping gifts. Made from 100% cotton, they can be knotted in many ways to create a variety of wraps and bags.

Being washable, tenugui are reusable and environmentally friendly. The long sides are finished with a selvedge whilst the short sides are cut to intentionally fray over time and with washing. This helps them dry quicker.

This tenugui is particularly special: made for us by the Kamawanu atelier in Japan, it is hand-dyed using the Chusen technique which dates back to the Meiji Period more than 100 years ago. Drawing on this refined craft, the print is a playful take on traditional Japanese words, objects and customs.

We think these tenugui are almost too good to use and deserve to be framed as artworks on the wall.