Kanzashi

The word ′kanzashi′ in the Russian online community is usually called the creation of hair ornaments (less often - accessories) from twisted silk ribbons that came from the traditional Japanese art in hairstyles decoration.

The accurate transcription of the name of authentic Japanese hair ornament is kandzasi. Different features classify them: the material they are made from, the place in the hair, there are different kandzasi for different seasons and social groups.

Kanzashi in the handicraft environment is defined as the creation of the so-called khana-kandzasi, the flowers from twisted silk rectangles. Japanese artisans created them using a technology called tsumami. Every square of fabric formed a separate flower petal, they were bonded with the rice glue, attached to a metal base, and then the flowers were gathered on a silk tape. In tradition of khana-kandzasi the images of butterflies and flowers were also widespread.



The modern artisans are attracted to kanzashi because of their availability, the technique can be mastered in a minimum of time without possessing the special artistic skills. There is also no need in large financial investments - a minimum of materials is needed for work. Though the creation of kanzashi requires great accuracy and meticulousness, filigree accuracy during the creation of every petal.

More often 2.5 or 5 cm width satin ribbons are used to make kanzashi. They are convenient: they can be easily cut into squares, only two of the four sides of every part will require additional processing. However other fabrics can be also used for work - for example, organza, crepe-chiffon, silk, but cutting of linen and processing the squares will require additional efforts.

Nowadays kanzashi flowers are attached to hairbands, hoops, bandages, studs, clips, less often - they make earrings or brooches from them. Such ornaments are especially suitable for children′s hairstyles - as an alternative to the usual bows. Often long ′tails′ with a number of smaller flowers are attached to modern Kanzashi basics, as well as to their Japanese prototypes.



History

The ornaments called kandzasi - clips, hairclips, hairpins - were widely spread in Japan during the Edo period. The appearance of kandzasi is associated with the changes in hairstyles’ traditions - Japanese girls stopped wearing long and straight hair and began to get the fancy haircuts.

Kandzasi was made of lacquered wood, jewelry, bone, precious and semiprecious stones, silk; they were chosen to match with kimonos and often the jewelry cost was not less than the basic clothes. Hair ornaments demonstrated the girl’s status and her social group – there was own kandzasi tradition for every social group.
When Japanese women began to adopt the European way of dressing, kandzasi lost their former popularity. They remained in the wardrobe of women who by the type of profession had to wear the traditional clothes, were used as an addition to the wedding kimonos.

But at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries the interest in kandzasi was revived among young Japanese girls. Hair accessories modelled on traditional ones began to appear in anime-cartoon images that are often embodied by young Japanese women.

Kanzashi got into the West and the CIS territory thanks to the fashion for everything Japanese and to the ubiquitous Internet. The global network became a perfect platform for communication and exchange of experience between the craftsmen popularizing the creation of kanzashi.

Learning

The technology of creation Kanzashi can be mastered almost in a day - focusing on samples and schemes from the Internet.
It is worth emphasizing at once - it is easy to master this technique but it does not tolerate negligence at all. You should be very attentive when burning the edges of the petals - the edge should be even, the fabric should be melted but not curbed. However, those who can work carefully will quickly get a hand and learn how to create beautiful kanzashi. If it is not given - it is better to choose a different another kind of handmade, more free in realization.



Expenses and income

You don’t need a large arsenal of tools or materials to make kanzashi. You will need ribbons or cloth for petals, a hot flue gun or glue like ′Super Moment′ with a convenient dispenser, a needle with a tight thread for sewing flowers, materials for decor - beads, sequins, sparkles. You will also have to purchase the basics for ornaments - hoops and bandages, clips and studs, ear wires for earrings and pins for brooches.

So the basic set for starting work in the kanzashi technique can cost about 100 Hryvnas. When you learn more about the creation of silk flowers, you can buy more materials and tools - especially if you want to sell the finished products.

Kanzashi ornaments can be in stable demand that does not depend on the season or fashion trends. With great productivity and successful promotion of this handmade business, it can be made a constant source of income.

Creating kanzashi ornaments you should first focus on children′s fashion - as there will always be girls who like to decorate themselves with beautiful flowers.