Happy Find
When I lived in Japan, I bought one of these beautiful aprons and loved it to death. When it fell apart and no amount of mending would resurrect it, I finally gave up and started looking for another one. I even blogged about wanting one, 'way back in my early posting days. Even though I have lived in places with pretty good sized Japanese populations, such as Honolulu and San Francisco, I have never found another one until yesterday.
So, you can imagine my delight when I stopped in at the Thousand Cranes Futon Shop on Fourth Street in Berkeley and there it was!
Crisply white, with a little detail of lace around the neck, this was exactly the kind of apron women wore all over Japan when I lived there! Usually over a kimono but really over anything, this ingeniously designed apron wraps around to the back so even if you are inclined to wipe your hands down your sides as I have been known to do while cooking, your clothes are protected. The three-quarter length sleeves never get in the way or in the water, either - as so many Japanese-designed things are, it's a marvel of functionality as well as of simple beauty.
I could tell that the saleswoman was puzzled by my obvious delight at finding such a mundane item - she shrugged daintily and shook her head, "Crazy person to be so happy with an apron!"
So, you can imagine my delight when I stopped in at the Thousand Cranes Futon Shop on Fourth Street in Berkeley and there it was!
Crisply white, with a little detail of lace around the neck, this was exactly the kind of apron women wore all over Japan when I lived there! Usually over a kimono but really over anything, this ingeniously designed apron wraps around to the back so even if you are inclined to wipe your hands down your sides as I have been known to do while cooking, your clothes are protected. The three-quarter length sleeves never get in the way or in the water, either - as so many Japanese-designed things are, it's a marvel of functionality as well as of simple beauty.
I could tell that the saleswoman was puzzled by my obvious delight at finding such a mundane item - she shrugged daintily and shook her head, "Crazy person to be so happy with an apron!"
12 Comments:
Congrats! That is one of my favorite stores on 4th Street.
Dagny, thanks, one of the little triumphs of life!
Back in the day when a pregnant belly was something to be covered, I wore the Japanese apron alot. I miss it! But not being pregnant...
I'd LOVE one of these. Alas, I haven't seen it in any of the stores I frequent in San Jose's Japantown. I'll have to put that store on my "to visit in Berkeley" list.
Moonbear, the grandchildren are a much better way to get the baby experience, aren't they? :-)
Mrs.L, you'll love it when you find one - they are the best!
Congratulations! One door opens, and another closes. You found a treasure and my life-long love closed. The Ben Davis store on University closed, Halmar I think it was. Waaaaaaa.
Biggles
ps - I wonder of Bed Davis makes one of those aprons?
Biggles, follow this link to other purveyors of Ben Davis clothing - including Jackson's hardware in Marin and one in Oakland.
http://www.bendavis.com/stores/california.html
New clothes for the tall guy!
Wow, I recognize that! Those ARE good aprons!
Anna, I'm tickled pink!
Thank you! I just sent that off to my father, he's in need as well.
Biggles
Biggles, de nada. We live to serve.
OH that is so pretty.
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