CARIATI & WAINWRIGHT One-of-a-Kind Hand Made & Hand Woven Black & White2-Piece Vest & Jacket
Both pieces are totally reversible - for tweed or plaid mix and match
This Company was one of the Original Genius Designers featured at OBIKO, San Francisco
CARIATI & WAINWRIGHT created one-of-a-kind Hand Woven and Showpieces for galleries,
individual clients and shows for many years.
In the last few decades their hand woven articles of clothing stand apart
for their delicacy of design and color sense
The most amazing part, is that the designs have held up completely.
You would be as likely to select one of these pieces
at Neiman Marcus right now as you would have in the 1970's
The OBIKO boutique sold beautiful Japanese-inspired clothing that resemble works of art.
One-of-a-kind wearable art with a Japanese flair is the specialty at Obiko,
was a small gallery west of Union Square.
The owner, Sandra Sakata, sold clothes created exclusively by what she called "my repertory company,"
a group of 100 artists, mostly from the Bay Area,
who created clothing and accessories in response to themes chosen by Ms. Sakata.
Subjects ranged from "black and white environments" to "African ethnic" motifs, to Asian Sophistication.
Sandra Sakata, born in Watsonville, California, is an American fashion designer.
As one of the originators of the Art to wear fashion movement, her boutique, Obiko,
founded in the mid 1970's, featured one-of-a-kind designs of mostly San Francisco Bay Area designers.
She inspired these designers to produce jewelry, hand knits, woven fabrics,
and hand-dyed silks inspired by ethnic influences worldwide that are symbolic of the art-to-wear movement.
These designs were included at the flagship store, located on Sutter Street near Union Square.
Later, Obiko expanded to New York City. Some of their creations are now in museums. The boutique closed in 1997.
Here is a 2 Piece totally hand made and HAND WOVEN
Jacket & Matching Vest
Woven in TWO (2) complimentary materials of Tweed & Subtle Plaid in Black & White
Together they are perfection!
The Sleeveless Vest has a Rounded Vee Neckline
The jacket features a deeper Vee neckline
Both have Tortoise buttons down the front and each is totally reversible with closures and pockets
The fabrications are a silk nubby hand woven crepe and remind me of a material used by Donna Karan, New York
Vest is more fitted than the jacket which has a long boxy shape
Vest measures 22" Long from Shoulder to longest poing in the front
It has points on each front panel and a small point at the sides and a Vee at the center rear of the hemline
35" Bustline
36" Hemline - fabric has a little stretch
the tweed side is married to the plaid side with absolute perfection
You can wear it in either direction completely interchangeable.
Jacket is a Vee Neckline with Long Inset Sleeves and Patch Pockets on each hipline
The plaid side pockets are still stitched from the factory.
Again the weaving is reversible and the tweed and plaid are identical to that on the vest
Long boxy jacket
Slightly Dropped Shoulder with a 23" long Sleeve - you can fold up the cuff to show the inside fabric.
30" from Neck seam to end of sleeve
The warp and weft of the threads is clearly visible and adds dimension to the magnificent texture
There is no Fabrication or Size tag, but it feels like Woven Silk with perhaps a little wool
It is a juxtaposition cross hatched of geometrics and stripings
Jacket is 30" Long from Center Neck seam to hemline
Bustline is 41"
Hemline measures 43" around.
This item is from an estate, where the owner was a huge fan of OBIKO and Sandra Sakata
Her clothes included tastings from many of the designers including Charles & Patricia Lester
Marian Clayden and Alex and Lee.
This is in excellent estate condition but has lost the designer label, because it is reversible.
It is freshly dry cleaned
Retail was about $3,500.00
Please note: Because this is completely handwoven, sharp jewelry or something rough will pull a thread.
It is fragile, and must be handled with care.
Also, because it is completely hand-woven there are some irregularities to the fabrication which is part of the
Beauty of a Hand-Loomed Garment!
Fall 2012 is a season of contrast.
"Juxtapose menswear-inspired tailoring, fabrics and military influences with romantic & feminine touches"
says Neiman Marcus Fashion Director Ken Downing.
"Sometimes it's what's understated that speaks the loudest and clearest.
This season there's a new sophistication in the pure simplicity and wearability of it all,
A return to the wisdom of building a new and lasting wardrobe based on the perfect quintessentials.
"Pantsuits and Skirt suits may not sound like news, but there are generations of women who have never worn them."
MARC JACOBS & MICHAEL KORS Collections play on the fabulous Hand Made and Hand Woven
Cariata & Wainwright we are featuring.
This is a winning option!
This piece is of Museum Quality.