Textile Design 20: Wisteria

Today' textile design is "Wisteria"

I see a cluster of light purple between the trees.

Wild wisteria vines snaking throughout

Climbing along the trees with flowers in bloom.

I feel a strong presence from the sight of

Wisteria amongst the overlapping greenery.

(Written by Katsuji Wakisaka, translated by Angie Chen)

Mother's Day 2012 Gift Recommendation

Hello everyone,
Mother's Day is fast approaching and the staff at SOU SOU SF would like to make some gift suggestions.

For the corporate-world mom in your life, how about a fashionable, but functional and sophisticated business card case made out of our ever-popular Ise Cotton!

Business Card Case Chrysanthemum Black - $14.98

Our whole selection can be found here:
Business Card Case @ SOU SOU SF

These can be useful for any mom, not just business mom. She can put in her credit cards, transit cards or passes, and membership cards as a light weight organizer in addition to her wallet or coin purse.

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The weather is getting pleasantly warmer and warmer, so give mom a lightweight but warm layering piece. We suggest this lovely wool-cotton Flying Squirrel Capelet Deep Khaki Green - $59.90.

Or this Flying Squirrel Capelet with Shibori Dye Bright Blue - $89.00 for a more playful look.

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These beautiful capelets would do wonderfully with this

Naginata Kimono Sleeve Dress Cotton Flowers - $118.00

Certainly a bold statement print dress, but the free flowing silhouette - similar to our popular "rectangle" dresses - make it easy to pair with anything!

And if floral isn't what that lovely lady in your life would wear, we have some cute but chic Tabata Shibori tie dye dot dresses with the same Naginata Kimono sleeves.

Naginata Kimono Sleeve Dress Tabata - $128.00

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And any mother can appreciate a lovely scarf that can help tie an outfit together or even transform something plain to something amazing.
One suggestion would be this

All Season Scarf Chrysanthemum - $36.00

Also, for those moms who want a more neutral color palette

All Season Scarf Chrysanthemum Black - $36.00

Our entire selection of scarves can be found here:
All Season Scarves @ SOU SOU SF

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Hopefully these are good starting points for your gift brainstorming and we always appreciate photos of our happy customers, so please send them in!

(angie)

Textile Design 19:Spring Breeze

Today's featured textile design is "Spring Breeze," which is also used on a pair of our signature tabi socks.

Here's the note from the textile designer, Katsuji Wakisaka.

You can say that the wonderful sight of bright yellow flowers peaking through in-between the fields represents spring in Japan.

The Haiku poetry by Buson "Nanohana (broccoli flowers) - with the moon in the east and the sun in the west" reminds me of a sense of joy felt during a peaceful spring season.


(Katsuji Wakisaka, Translated by Chinatsu and Angie)

Textile Design 18: Plum Trees

Today's featured textile design is "Plum Trees," which is also a design used for a pair of our signature tabi socks and tenugui towels.

Here's the note from the textile designer, Katsuji Wakisaka.

While there is still a winter chill in the air, the plum flower blooms earlier than the rest.
Many people loved it for centuries for it's elegance and clean scent.
When you walk amongst plum trees, you feel your mind getting clear and your heart will be full of bliss.

(Katsuji Wakisaka)

Valentine's Day 2012 Campaign

The temperature has been up and down and boy has it been chilly recently!

Keep your loved one warm during this cold wintry season with some beautiful 100% Ise Cotton All Season scarves!

In celebration of a day for love - not just between couples, but between family & friends as well - SOU SOU SF will be having a special Valentine's Day campaign!

From February 2nd, 2012 to February 14th, 2012 we will take 20% off the following all season scarves:

All Season Scarf Red Marbles



All Season Scarf Big Chrysanthemum

All Season Scarf Red Dots And Stripes Red

Just use the code "RED" at your checkout screen to apply to your online orders or mention "RED" to the cashier when you come to purchase these scarves at our physical location.

Lovely red scarves make a statement & spice up an otherwise less-than-thrilling outfit. Although the color may be bright for some, it is actually easy to coordinate with. The color red inspires a very warm image, like love, it will keep you nice and toasty.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us:

sou_sou@newpeopleworld.com

Festival Tabi shoes

"Festival" Tabi shoes
More good news about new products! We have more special order products lined up and made available to you all, dear readers~

Today's post is about "Festival" tabi shoes. You may have seen the "Festival" tabi boots available at our physical location & on the online store. If not, you can check them out here.


These tabi shoes, like the boots are made of slightly thinner material & have a slightly thinner rubber sole than the usual. Also, these shoes are made more tight fitting than usual. All this is to provide maximum flexibility for the wearer. When going out to traditional festivals in Japan, you want to have a lightweight shoe for all the activities that you would be participating in (dancing, Taiko drumming, etc).


Some more specifics on the "Festival" tabi shoes themselves:
New tabi boots manufactured by Moonstar Co. which has been producing great quality shoes since 1873 in Fukuoka Prefecture.
This model is the same model which has been used for traditional Japanese festivals and thus more tight fitting than the usual.

Comes with 5 buttons that enable you to control the tightness of the shoes.
Material: Canvas Cotton; 
Made in Fukuoka Japan

These come in the following colors/inner-lining designs:
Black/Chrysanthemum Burst (link)
White/Glittering Light (link)
Pink/Chrysanthemum (link)

Again, these are special order products so they are only available online and made to order.
Please allow 2~3 weeks for delivery and there is the option to come pick them up at the San Francisco store once we receive it.

If you have further questions, please feel free to contact us via e-mail or phone!

sou_sou@newpeopleworld.com
(415)525-8654

(Angie)

We are getting Noren Curtain

Good news for those of you waiting patiently for new products at SOU SOU US!
We will be getting a shipment of items to restock our physical location, but we also have some special order products lined up.

Today, I'd like to introduce to you our Noren curtains, available via special order!



These are beautiful and have a great variety of color and design, as expected of quality SOU SOU products. It'll add a little life to your room, especially since we tend towards more plain and simple wall colors & detailing here in the States.



Now, I'm sure you have a general idea of what these curtains are from the photos.

However!

Just what exactly are "Noren" curtains you ask?
“Noren” is a traditional Japanese curtain used as a room decoration or room divider and meant to be hung between rooms, on walls, in doorways, or in windows.

It comes with straps for hanging up, so you can hang them on a pole up to 0.6 inch diameter in thickness. Or you can simply use nails to secure the curtains in place by their straps.

The "Noren" curtains that we offer are, as to be expected, made of 100% Ise cotton manufactured in the Ise Region of Mie prefecture and silk-screened in Kyoto.

As I mentioned, these will be available as special order products, so you can only order them online on our website here. Of course there is the option to have it sent to your home or for you to come pick it up at the store in San Francisco.

Please allow us 2-3 weeks time for delivery; we don't make them until you order them!

Please also check this page here for ordering date estimates! It gets updated approximately every 2 weeks, so do check back often if you are interested.

If you should have any questions at all, please also feel free to contact us via e-mail or by phone!
sou_sou@newpeopleworld.com
415-525-8654
Mon-Sat: 12pm-7pm PST, Sun: 12pm-6pm PST