
Hand-stitched beadwork, re-loved preloved & vintage treasures.
You don’t need a special belt to fasten a kimono. For years I used a silk tie. However these mini ready made bows are so simple and pretty that now I have one there’s no going back. People don’t buy formal obi belts finding them too complex. You might see the fabric being sold after they’ve been chopped up. However I have some narrow hanhaba belts which are half the width and more wearable, shorter mini belts with ready tied bows or vintage silk heko Obi.
Lots of people have asked me about casual belts. Most of them seem to be seeking something a bit more glamorous than a head scarf to fasten their dressing gown or kimono. Heko obi are the perfect answer. They are very long, very wide but can easily be gathered up into a comfortable size to wrap around any waist.
For the mini belts with the bow you need to check your waist measurements carefully. These ones only wrap around once and fasten with the attached ribbon. The ends of the belt can overlap and you could adjust the ties but if the belt itself (the obihaba) doesn’t go all the way around you won’t be happy with it. Tsukuri effectively means ready made. The ready made bow slots over the belt and is fastened in place with the ties. You might want to adapt your own purchase with an extra tie or snap fasteners to make it perfect for your own body shape and style.
I’m selling 2 sizes of bow. The smaller bows are very roughly 12cm deep, 31cm wide and 26cm long. The larger bows, again very roughly are 20cm deep, 36cm wide, 35 cm long. See the photos on my Instagram (@seasidebeadsandkimono) to get an idea of the difference between small and large. The large ones are slightly more expensive. If you are thinking you might want to wear it out, say under a coat, then the smaller size will be more practical. Again, check your measurements to make sure the belt will fit you.
The hanhaba belts are narrow obis which are still very long but which can be worn with relative ease if you do prefer to tie your kimono with something more traditional than a headscarf. These wrap around several times so will fit all sizes but individual measurements are set out in the listings.
1. Small checkered woven tsukuri obi belt & bow with bell.
Taiko (part of the obi used to tie the bow) 28cm
Obihaba (part of obi that goes round the waist) 80cm by 14cm.
Note: the bow of this one is attached to the belt so they can’t be used separately. Very decorative.
2. Small red & gold woven tsukuri obi belt & bow with carriage wheel pattern and tassel decoration
Taiko (part of the obi used to tie the bow) 30cm
Obihaba (part of obi that goes round the waist) 88cm by 14.5cm
3. Large woven tsukuri with butterflies obi belt & bow with tassel decoration
Taiko (part of the obi used to tie the bow) 35cm
Obihaba (part of obi that goes round the waist) 86cm by 19cm
4. Small gold background with green, orange and yellow pattern Obi bow and belt. A little bit of fraying to top and bottom on one belt - see photo.
Taiko (part of the obi used to tie the bow) 28cm
Obihaba (part of obi that goes round the waist) 88cm by 14.5cm
5. Small black/gold hexagons on a red background Obi bow and belt.
Taiko (part of the obi used to tie the bow) 30cm
Obihaba (part of obi that goes round the waist) 100cm by 14cm
Note: belt of this one is attached to bow so they can’t be worn separately.
6. Navy blue silk heko obi
436cm long
73cm wide
Shibori detail at tapered ends.
7. Dark grey silk heko obi
348cm long
67cm wide
Shibori détail at tapered ends
8. Black silk heko obi
340cm long
67cm wide
Shibori detailing leave at tapered ends
Few tiny marks but not noticeable on wearing and in good useable condition.
I’m a long term lover of vintage fashion who took a class in goldwork embroidery at a local art gallery and fell completely in love with beading.
During the pandemic I joined a Facebook group called Frock up Friday and discovered just how much I love dressing up and creating outfits. The pandemic also led me into regularly swimming in the sea so it wasn’t long before I was upcycling my swimwear. Other swimmers asked to buy some of my beadwork so I adjusted the techniques to make my creations more sea friendly and better able to cope with salt water. Now I can’t stop beading. I have become very sparkly.
Whilst I love clothes I can’t bear the waste we generate by throw away fashion. Clothes should be loved and treasured not worn once or twice and abandoned. The items I sell are either vintage or have been lovingly created or upcycled by me. Hours have been invested in sourcing vintage beads, crystals and gemstones and then in hand stitching my designs. There may sometimes be small imperfections because every item is unique.
Please take care of your beads. Don’t put them in the washing machine. If you do hand wash or get them wet then ensure you dry them thoroughly to prevent moisture being trapped inside the beads. Don’t put them on or near direct heat. I often dry my own swim hat by placing it on top of a towel on the radiator. If you purchase a pre-loved garment please also follow the care instructions for that garment.
Sophia Withers
Each item I sell is unique. I sometimes make a series of items such as the beloved fish or starfish but cannot promise to recreate them. My kits are a great way of learning how to create your own wearable art.
I started out with the intention of occasionally selling some vintage/preloved items but in the last few months I’ve become completely hooked on vintage japanese clothing. The items listed here are a small selection of my stock. You can find a wider range and details of fairs that I’ll be exhibiting at on my Instagram @seasidebeadsandkimono.
10% of the sale price of all my beaded items, and the seahorse kits, is donated to The Seahorse Trust. You can find out more about them here.