A Japanese textile made of alternating gauze and plain weave. Soft and pliable, Ro is traditionally a summer kimono , kosode, fabric but well suited in interiors to screens and cushions; antique Ro kimonos have particularly lovely colours.
The gauze weave is similar to the Leno weave where two warp yarns are twisted around the weft and then cross three, five, or seven weft yarns to create a flat banding. Ro may be woven in single or more colours, and is one of the three Karamiori Japanese Leno weaves that use intertwining threads to create the structure.
The other two are sha and ra: sha being the basic gauze, or Leno weave; ro being woven in alternating stripes of gauze and plain, and ra maintaining the gauze concept while allowing the warp and weft to combine if different ways, giving the weaver the opportunity to create highly intricate weaves.
However as with all textiles “ the boundaries may vary depending on who is using the term, and whether or not they are addressing the technique, or the mood of the weave.”
Karamiori – meaning to entwine, tangle – covers the loom techniques that use intertwining threads to create open structure. Any fine fibres can be used- even gold thread which creates an amazing translucent
It’s thought to be an old technique from at least 710 – 794 when it was used by temples and by the ruling classes.