Ayame kanzashi

This is a tsumami kanzashi with a motif classic for May: iris (アヤメayame).

In Japan iris is a very important flower: it is one of the decorations of Children’s festival (Kodomo no Hi, May 5 th) and grow in many traditional gardens, anticipating the coming of summer.

The design of this kanzashi is typical of accessories used by maiko (geisha apprentices) during the month of May.

It is made with two purple flowers and one white, in habutae silk, a Japanese silk with a simple weave, light and delicate. This fabric is used for kimono, and it is one of the main materials used in traditional tsumami zaiku.

Kanzashi is a long hairpin with two prongs that is usually pinned on an up-do.

This accessory is made entirely by hand. It needs to be worn and handled with care.