Textile design pattern from the book Sono no kaori (1903)
During the Meiji period, from 1868 to 1912, Japan emerged as an international player, adopting Western technologies, styles, and design movements. In this time, the tradition of creating kimono design manuals experienced a resurgence, transforming into printed collections referred to as zuan-cho, which translates to "design idea books." These volumes were shared and exchanged among artists, designers, kimono sellers, and affluent clients within the bustling urban centers of Japan.
