Charcoal Obi Sash Belt 'Nibi'
Narrow charcoal obi belt in a streaked black-and-grey weave with a pre-tied knot on a hidden adjustable closure; one size.
Charcoal Obi Sash Belt 'Nibi'
Nothing to pay at the door. Thirty days to change your mind. A person answers, not a bot.
- Free shipping
- Duties prepaid
- Free returns
A person replies, seven days a week. No bots.
The short answer
Narrow pre-tied obi belt in a thick woven cloth streaked in black and grey along its length like a slubbed yarn, the knot sewn on a tab that hooks over the band, with a hidden adjustable closure at the back. One size, Western sizing.
Fabric & care
The composition is stated in the description and printed on the inner label. Machine wash cold, inside out, with similar colours. Hang to dry. Iron on low, inside out over prints or embroidery.
Shipping & returns
Shipping is free on every order, with no minimum. Duties and import taxes are prepaid at checkout. Orders leave in 1 to 3 business days and take 6 to 12 business days on average; a tracking number is emailed on dispatch.
You may return any item within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. Write to contact@yonaku.com and we email you a prepaid label.
What we sell, and what we don't
Japanese designs, made in Asia. Cotton, linen or polyester as stated on each piece, never silk. We name every garment for what it is: a kimono jacket is not a haori, an unlined kimono is not a yukata.
- Free shippingEvery order, no minimum
- Duties prepaidNothing to pay on delivery
- TrackedNumber emailed on dispatch
- 30-day returnsFree, prepaid label
- Sizing helpRuns small: take the larger size
- A person repliesText or email, no bots
About this piece
Charcoal pre-tied obi belt in a streaked weave, the narrow kind worn low
Charcoal, streaked like rain on slate. This narrow obi is a stiff band woven from a yarn that shifts between black and grey along its length, so the surface is streaked rather than striped, with a pre-tied knot at the front that hooks on. From across a room it reads as a dark grey; from close it is a hundred short lines of two colours.
It is the narrow obi in the collection with the most texture and no pattern, and the one for a person who wants grey without a stripe.
The name, Nibi, is the dull grey, the colour of a cloud before rain, and it is another of the old names for a grey.
The band is a thick woven cloth folded double and stitched flat, stiff enough to hold its line round the waist, and the knot is sewn in place on a short separate tab that hooks over the band at the front, so the obi goes on in one movement: wrap, fasten at the back under the band, hook the knot on. The closure is adjustable and hidden.
Wear it over a yukata, a jinbei top, a kimono or a haori, wrapped twice round the hips rather than the waist, low, the way a man ties a narrow obi and a woman ties one when she wants the same line. The knot sits at the back or at the side, as you prefer; the photograph shows it at the front only so you can see it. Over a plain tee and a wide trouser it works as a belt.
The streaks come from the yarn, not from a print: the thread changes colour along its length, and the weave shows the change as short horizontal marks. The knot is cut on the bias, so on it the marks run diagonally, which is the detail to look for.
Hand wash cool, flat, and dry flat; do not wring, because the stiffening in the band creases. Iron on the reverse if it needs it. It is a belt, and it takes a belt's life.
From across a room it is a dark grey band with a knot. From close the band shows its streaks, the knot its diagonal, and the weave its slub. It is the obi for a black jinbei and for a person who likes a surface.
One size. The band wraps a waist from about 70 to 110 cm with the closure adjusted, and the pre-tied knot means the length does not change how it looks. It is cut to Western sizing, so there is no size to take up.
Questions about the obi belt
What is an obi belt?
The sash that closes a kimono, yukata, jinbei or haori. The narrow kind wraps the hips twice and knots flat; the wide brocade kind wraps the waist and finishes in a bow at the back. Every obi here comes pre-tied.
How does a pre-tied obi work?
The band wraps round and fastens at the back with a hidden adjustable closure; the knot or bow is sewn on a separate piece that hooks over the band. It goes on in under a minute and looks tied.
What size is it?
One size, cut to Western sizing. The narrow obi adjusts from about 70 to 110 cm at the hips, the wide obi from about 65 to 100 cm at the waist.
Is it made in Japan?
No. It is a Japanese design, made in Asia. We say so on every page.
Can I wear it without a kimono?
Yes. The narrow obi works as a belt over a tee and a wide trouser; the wide obi has been worn over a plain dress. The photographs show the knot at the front only so you can see it; wear it at the back or the side.
How do I wash it?
Narrow obi: hand wash cool and dry flat. Wide brocade obi: spot clean only, store flat or rolled, never folded across the bow.
What we sell, and what we don't
Japanese designs, made in Asia. Cotton, linen or polyester as stated on each piece, never silk. We say so on every page, because the alternative is selling you a word instead of a garment.
On the record
| Piece | Charcoal Obi Sash Belt 'Nibi' |
|---|---|
| Chapter | 小物Accessories |
| Collection | Obi Belt |
| Fabric | Thick woven cloth |
| Sizes | One size |
| Made | Japanese design, made in Asia |
| Reference | YONA-0883 |
Japanese pieces you looked at
More Japanese clothing, streetwear and decor
Japanese Masks
Large Wooden Folk Mask 'Oomen'
$250.00
Japanese Lantern
Japanese Paper Lantern 'Bonbori'
$15.00
Japanese Cushions
Printed Japanese Zabuton 'Garaza'
$25.00
Haori
Men's Hannya Haori Jacket 'Kijo'
$45.00
Happi Coat
Storm Dragon Happi Jacket 'Raiun'
$50.00
Japanese School Uniform