Origami cranes

Motif

The Japanese origami crane "orizuru," holds profound cultural significance, symbolizing ancient wisdom, resilience, hope and peace. Its roots are traced back to the legend of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl affected by the Hiroshima atomic bomb during World War II. Sadako, diagnosed with leukemia, folded a thousand cranes in a pursuit of healing and peace, inspiring the tradition of "senbazuru”, folding a thousand cranes.

The crane, revered for its longevity and grace, became a powerful metaphor for beauty emerging from tragedy. The act of folding a thousand cranes, known as "senbazuru," is not only a personal wish but a collective desire for global peace. This is why we can sometimes see long garlands of colourful origami cranes hanging in shrines. They call for peace and healing after disasters, transcending cultural boundaries. The crane, whether solitary or part of a garland, represents the enduring human spirit, the pursuit of peace, and the belief in positive transformation.

Textile

This obi is woven with silk and gold lamé threads. The crane motif is woven with lamé and white which higky reflect light. As you can see on the image below, the cranes shine bright form a certain angle and become more discreet from another angle while the big chrysanthemums at the back darken.