Silk brocade was the most common material used for lining samurai armor and making samurai clothing during the Edo era (1603 ~ 1868).  As silk has risen in cost and difficulty of maintaining, many (if not all) modern armorers have turned to the alternative artificial or “art.” silks.  Iron Mountain Armory uses a heavy / thick art. silk blend of mostly polyester and rayon, making it very easy to clean and maintain while keeping a very reasonable cost.  As we like to keep with tradition as much as possible, which is why we make these thick brocades using a traditional design jacquard machine (invented in 1804).  As seen during the Edo era, when new materials were introduced  to Japan, armorers incorporated them into their armor crafting and seamstress into their clothing making.  So, the modern art silk would likely have been the next step of evolution in crafting of samurai armor and Japanese clothing.

Please select the thick art silk brocade you would like using the reference number in the product picture.  Each quantity of heavy brocade measures 75x100cm (29.5×39 inches) which is the optimal size for crafting sangu (samurai armor parts).  The length will not be cut if multiple quantities are ordered, unless requested in the “Order Notes” section of the order form.  So, if you order a single brocade with a quantity of 5, you will receive a length of 75 x 500 cm.  Please reference the average quantity needed for each samurai armor part.  These art silks have the required weave pattern, thickness, weight and blend perfect for replacing, repairing or upgrading your current armor sets, as well as DIY (Do It Yourself) and Cosplay projects.  These art. silks can also be used for making samurai clothing, such as jinbaori and bakama.

Please Note: AS6, AS7 & AS8 have a slight gold shimmer (shine) effect.  Material texture, color, shade, tone and pattern may differ slightly from image and from different orders. Because Iron Mountain Armory doesn’t produce these art. silk brocades we have little control but do inspect each shipment to make certain any differences are not too much.

Average Quantity Needed Per Part:

• Kote Set: Qty 1 – 2
• Haidate: Qty 1
• Suneate Set: Qty 1

We of course suggest ordering 1 extra quantity of art brocade incase you need a little extra sizing or make an error while cutting.

Features:

• Samurai Armor grade artificial silk
• Perfect for DIY
• Order longer lengths by increasing quantity

Please note the material is hand cut, making the final cut +/- 2 cm in length/width. This item is generally in stock with our local distributor. However, we still need time to order and ship your order.  Please allow at least 1 to 2 week for shipping of this item.