The Japanese Art Of Brading,

goes back 1,300 years,

 kumihimo as it is known, translates to “gathered threads,” the weaving technique has been practiced for centuries, with the completed creations used for binding historical samurai armour and creating ties for modern kimonos, 

and now the art on special looms has come to London, the exhibition titled Kumihimo: Japanese Silk Braiding is being held at Japan House London,

for the technical,

one weaver seated at a takadai loom manually passes bobbins through the upper and lower threads and then uses a bamboo tool, or hera, to hit and tighten the braid, later, a craftsperson is shown at the round murudai, which involves passing the strands from front to back in a rhythmic sequence,

have a look at the video above for a glimpse into the process, and if you’re in London, you can pop kin and see Kumihimo: Japanese Silk Braiding, which features installations, looms, and dozens of examples of the braids, through to June 11, you never know we might pay a visit on one of Diana's days off.