Isesaki-kasuri is a pre-dyed kasuri textile (ikat-style weaving) known for its durability and long-lasting colors. As it is worn, the kasuri patterns and luster mature beautifully, deepening the fabric’s character. Techniques used include kukuri-gasuri (ikat by binding), itajime-gasuri (board-resist ikat), kata-gami-nassen-gasuri (stencil-resist ikat), and weft kasuri, with most processes carried out by hand. Isesaki, with its favorable environment for mulberry cultivation, has thrived in sericulture for over 1,200 years. The origins trace back to Futo-ori, a coarse silk fabric woven from waste cocoons. As techniques advanced, hand-spun threads gave way to twisted yarns, changing the fabric’s texture from rustic to refined. Around the early Meiji period, striped kasuri fabrics began to be produced, later becoming widely known as Isesaki-meisen. In 1975, Isesaki-kasuri was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.