The Ainu are the indigenous people of northern Japan, Hokkaido and parts of Russia, though few or no pure blood Ainu now remain.
The Ainu were only formally recognised as an indigenous group in 2008 after over 130 years of forced assimilation since the colonization of Hokkaido beginning in the early years of the Meiji Period (1868-1912).
Traditional Ainu dress was a calf-length robe made from the soft bark of the elm tree, known as attusi or attush and tied at the waist with a sash. The geometric designs on the hems and straight sleeves are particularly beautiful.
The methods of Ainu stitching still survive and you can buy Auni style bags and Aini headbands from our sister site GoodsFromJapan.com
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Ainu Dress
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