tsumami zaiku 1

Shift from folding paper to folding cloth to create beautiful hair ornaments, earrings, and decorations for any occasion.

Tsumami zaiku was developed during the Edo Period (1603-1868) as a way to enhance the beauty of kimono with hair ornaments that represented the traditional Japanese themes of natural seasonal beauty. Time-honored patterns included chrysanthemums, sakura blossoms, and cranes, but modern tsumami zaiku has a much more lenient design that includes objects like stars and roses.

Making a tsumami zaiku ornament is no easy task. It requires intense focus and concentration to fold the numerous pieces of square cloth, which are then intricately bonded together to a base with glue and attached to a hair comb, hair clip, or other fastening object.

Hair accessories aren’t the only option either; necklaces, earrings, and small decorative ornaments are also possible and popular. If you can fold it, you can make it. Check out the video below for a brief look at the detailed process of tsumami zaiku and get ready to open your Etsy store!

▼ Japanese only, but look at the pretty things!

Source: CuRAZY
Top image: Twitter/@harumai_ko