Modern Traditions: Subtle Seigaiha Patterns |

Many designers and graphic designers are familiar with the decorative seigaiha (or seikaiha) pattern, consisting in semi-circular repeated and overlapping blue sea waves. This simple but striking pattern was used to decorate not only architectural features (including gates) in Japan, but also appeared on traditional textiles (and in particular on costumes for ancient court dance gagaku), on ceramic ware and lacquerware inkstone cases.

Mainly considered as a Summer-oriented motif, the pattern reappeared on a skirt in the Shima Seiki section of the KnitClub area at Pitti Filati 75 in a light mini-skirt covered with a white thin panel. Though the seigaiha pattern has been used in Japan as a clothing motif for over a thousand years, it still looks incredibly modern here and turns this rather simple and basic garment into a desirable piece.