Malay Baku Tenugui

Todaya Shoten has been making tenugui and kimono since 1872, drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese designs dating back to their original founding. Instead of screen printing, Todaya uses a painstaking method where each design is drawn on paper and cut by hand. From there, the paper is used as a stamp to print on to individual pieces of fabric. The delicate, individual cuts give each design its own unique and specialized character!

These tenugui are made of a thin, lightweight cotton designed for quick drying and easy storage. Hang it on your wall for decoration or use in your kitchen to dry off dishes or hands.

A note from the makers:
"The nocturnal Malay baku (tapir) originates from the tropical forests of Sumatra, Thailand, Malaysia, and Myanmar. They love to bathe, swim, and dive, and their black and white patterns protect them from watchful eyes in the dimly-lit forest. In Thailand, there are largely-held beliefs such as, "When the gods created animals, the tapir was born by joining the remaining remnants together," and "the Buddha took out his hip and gave it to the tapir, giving it a white stripe."

Please note: colors may run during the first couple of washes, so be sure to wash separately with cold water to avoid color bleeding.

A note on the edges

The short ends of tenugui are unfinished. This is intentional. Traditionally, tenugui are left unsewn on the short ends so they dry faster, and stay more hygienic. And historically they would be quickly torn into strips for use as bandages or ties in an emergency.

Because of this, a small amount of fraying on the short ends is normal and expected. It's a traditional feature, not a flaw, and it will stop on its own after the first few washes as the weave settles.

You can also snip or pull off the fraying strings if you prefer.

Features:

• Dimensions: 35.5"L x 14.5"W
• Material: 100% cotton
• Hand-Dyed and made in Japan