Kaparamip

item details

NameKaparamip

ProductionAkemi Shimada; maker/artist; March 2015; Japan

Classificationrobes, kimonos

Materialscotton

Materials Summary(1) This garment is made from indigo cotton fabric. (2) Large patterns have been cut from white cotton fabric and appliquéd to the garment. The appliqué technique is called “kaparamip”, which literally means a thin garment with “kapar” meaning thin and “amip” garment. Thus, the term “kaparamip” refers to both appliqué technique known as "kaparamip" and the cotton garment decorated using this technique. (3) Embroidery using the “ikarari” technique (couching stitch) has been applied to the large white patterns using dark green thread. Dark green “Ikarari” lines flow over the entire surface of the back, which is accentuated with bright red sheeting fabric cut in the shape of a cross, which protect the wearer from evil. In old times red represented something important or valuable.

Techniquesembroidering, appliqué

DimensionsOverall: 1505mm (width), 1240mm (length), 20mm (depth)

Registration NumberGH026586

Credit lineGift of Akemi Shimada, 2024

Overview

This kaparamip was created by Ainu artist Akemi Shimada and took five months to produce.

It is made from indigo cotton fabric which has had large patterns cut from white cotton fabric and appliquéd to the garment; both this technique of embroidery and the garment itself are called kaparamip – ‘kapar’ meaning thin and ‘amip’ meaning garment.

Akemi has used the ikarari technique (couching stitch) to embroider the white appliqué with dark green thread - these patterns protect the wearer from evil. The patterns on the back of the garment are accentuated by bright red crosses stitched into the gaps. Historically, the colour red represented something of importance or value.

Akemi Shimada
Akemi was raised by Ainu-speaking parents in Shizunai, Hokkaido before moving to Tokyo in her early twenties. Like many Ainu, Akemi initially hid her Ainu heritage while in Tokyo for fear of discrimination, but an encounter with Māori later inspired her to start learning more about her culture and share it with others. She has since become a passionate advocate for Ainu living in Tokyo and a respected Ainu embroiderer active in Ainu cultural revitalisation efforts.

Akemi is the current Chairperson of the Aotearoa Ainu Mosir Exchange Programme and also Chair of Casi An Kar (see booklet object entry), an organisation set up with the aim of building an Ainu-led space in Tokyo based on the concept of the urban marae.