“Kakishibu” is a traditional Japanese natural dye made from fermented persimmons. Used for generations in Japan, the dye produces a range of deep amber-brown shades, transforming the fabric's surface into a water-resistant, antiseptic, and aesthetically rich, beautiful finish.
Two of Haru Nomura’s signature plant-dye colors, Brown & Ink, are from Kakishibu, and they are quite special. When I walked into her atelier in the mountains near Kyoto in July 2025, I was greeted by her Traveling Bag on display. It was not a new bag, but rather a 9-year-old Traveling Back in persimmon brown. The exquisite sheen and softness of the patina immediately drew me in and reminded me of the worn-in leather artifacts I love. Haru explained to us the very involved process of dying her fabric with persimmon: she brushes the dye onto the fabric and lets it dry outside, exposed to sunlight, which activates the color. To achieve the rich amber color, she goes through this process many times over a few weeks. She told us that it’s the most time-consuming and labor-intensive dying process amongst all the natural dyes she works with.
Interestingly, when the fabric is applied with persimmon dye and dries in the sun, it becomes stiff and crispy, as if it had been sprayed with a commercial-grade starch. Seeing the contrast between the 9-year-old Traveling Bag and the new one side by side is mind-blowing. These worn-in versions feel so different in our hands and on our bodies compared to the freshly dyed bag. While we were visiting Haru’s ateliers, I picked up a Traveling Bag in persimmon brown for my personal usage. When I took the bus home after visiting her atelier, the bag hanging over my shoulder felt almost uncomfortable from the scratchiness. I told myself that the fabric would soften over time to ease my initial reaction. I traveled around Japan for the rest of the summer with the bag, and once I got back in the canyon, I started taking it on hikes and day trips. The once super-crunchy linen definitely softened within a week or two of use, but the fabric's texture and feel are nowhere near as beautiful as a 9-year-old one.
And I think that’s the beauty of it all. When I decided to become a home to the Traveling Bag, I made a commitment to see it through - to accept that the true wisdom and beauty that exudes from within doesn’t emerge overnight. It takes time and patience, and that is something nobody can buy with money.
I took some comparison photos of a 9-year-old and the new Traveling Bag just so I could visually communicate the transformation in this post. At BK, we are currently offering Record Bag, Traveling Bag, and Pocket in Brown and Ink, dyed in persimmon. If you are considering bringing Haru Nomura’s artifacts into your life, I hope these photos will help you become familiar with the journey Haru’s bags will take once they are home with you.
Because as much as we journey through our lives, so do these artifacts.
// haru nomura Traveling Bag in Persimmon Brown - 9 years old //
// haru nomura Traveling Bag in Persimmon Brown - New //
// haru nomura Traveling Bag in Persimmon Brown - Comparison //
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