Edition III of The Silent Traveller comes in the form of a soft reader’s pyjama, built for travel, play, for writing and reading and pottering in. Inspired by my own recent travels in rural Japan and by Chiang Yee’s enchanting book, The Silent Traveller in Japan (1971, Country Life Books). Each set is made-to-order, cut in both men’s and women’s sizes, in an incredibly soft organic cotton moleskin. Nearly impossible to wrinkle, seemingly built for the ease, travel and everyday wear, the set’s moleskin is sourced from the last remaining heritage textile mill in England, specialising in the production and dying of moleskin and corduroy. An unusual fine shirting-weight moleskin gives shirt and trouser a relaxed, soft drape. Each set is made in my London studio using traditional sewing methods, features hand finishing, and comes wrapped in handmade mulberry paper in a museum-quality archival box.
For women: The buttoned shirt is cut as an oversized ‘gardeners' shirt, featuring a front patch pocket, buttoned sleeves built for rolling, and a shirt body with volume to move through the world in. The shirt can be worn unbuttoned, open and layered, buttoned for a more polished approach with a fine knit turtleneck worn underneath, or tied around the waist for a sculptural look with the trousers. The trousers are cut in a relaxed shape with a slightly longer inseam and a leg that tapers slightly toward the ankle, worn rolled at the cuff or left with the raw hem shown. Both the buttoned shirt and trouser feature mother of pearl buttons. The trouser has a drawstring waistband and a button-fly opening, hidden side pockets and single patch pocket at the back. All hems are intentionally left raw and finished with a double stitch. The wearer can further customise the degree of raw edging by trimming if desired. All sets are washed and tumble-dried to make soft and eliminate any shrinkage concerns. (Sets are machine washable on delicate-cold.) Each set is made to order to your sizing preferences and measurements. See more details to choose from when placing an order.
For men: The buttoned shirt is relaxed but fitted featuring a single breast pocket, a button-through placket and single button closure at the sleeve cuffs. Hanger loop at the back yoke. The trousers are cut in a relaxed shape with a slightly longer inseam and a leg that tapers slightly toward the ankle, worn rolled at the cuff or left with the raw hem shown. The trouser has a drawstring waistband and a button-fly opening, hidden side pockets and single patch pocket at the back. All hems are intentionally left raw and finished with a double stitch. The wearer can further customise the degree of raw edging by trimming if desired. All sets are washed and tumble-dried to make soft and eliminate any shrinkage concerns. (Sets are machine washable on delicate-cold.) Each set is made to order to your sizing preferences and measurements. Both the buttoned shirt and trouser feature mother of pearl buttons. Each set is made to order to your sizing preferences and measurements. See more details to choose from when placing an order.
Edition III of The Silent Traveller takes its inspiration from the endearing memoir A Silent Traveller in Japan by Chiang Yee. His observations and watercolour studies made over four visits to Japan, capturing each season, are at the heart of the edition.
Yee describes customs and rituals, dress and language, poetry and drama, painting and sculpture, kites and carp, trees and flowers — all is revealed in his inimitable text and delightful drawings. The book reveals the subtle nuances of daily life and habits in both urban and secluded corners of Japan. Mr. Chiang Yee’s charming humour, keen observations, and poetic use of language make this one of the most special and relatively little-known books on Japan. As Sir Herbert Read observed, Chaing Yee “is one of those rare travellers who help us understand ourselves. He writes simply and clearly about matters which are subtle and difficult to understand…and has greatly extended our knowledge not only of Chinese civilisation but of art and civilisation in general.”