Bingata

Fabric decorated with a busy design of diamonds constructed from light green bamboo stems and blue, pink and purple flowers on a white background.
Bingata fabric
The back view of a white kimono dyed with bingata.
19th century ramie Ryukyuan dress showing bingata-dyed design of bamboo, cranes and plum blossoms

Bingata (Okinawan: 紅型, literally "red style") is a traditional stencilled resist dyeing technique originating in Okinawa Prefecture. Bingata typically features a busy pattern of repeating nature motifs such as fish, flowers and fauna in a number of bright colours. Bingata is worn during traditional Ryukyuan festivals and traditional arts performances.

Bingata dates from the Ryūkyū Kingdom period (14th century), when the island of Okinawa experienced an influx of foreign goods and manufacturing techniques. It is believed to have developed as a synthesis of Indian, Chinese, and Javanese dyeing processes.


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