Bucket Hat 'Koi Mandala' - 水槽

A koi pond seen from above, embroidered as a medallion Breeding koi (錦鯉, nishikigoi) is among the most codified pastimes in Japanese horticultural culture. It began in the Niigata region in the early nineteenth century, selecting and crossing ornamental carp for the most striking coats. Around a hundred varieties are officially recognized: kohaku, white with red, the most prestigious; taishō sanke, white with red and black; shōwa sanshoku; asagi, with blue scales; ōgon, wholly metallic; and kumonryū, black and white in cloud-like patterns that change with the seasons. The national koi shows — the All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Show above all — draw hundreds of breeders and exhibitors every year, and a single champion fish can change hands for hundreds of thousands of dollars at the annual sales. The record is held by S Legend, a female kohaku sold in 2018 for a figure well over a million euros. That economy of prestige makes koi the aquatic equivalent of bonsai: a living thing raised over decades toward a demanding aesthetic. The embroidered medallion takes an unusual angle — a pond seen from directly above. Koi of several varieties, red-and-white kohaku, orange-and-white, black-and-white bekko and grey, circle a central whirlpool in an arrangement that reads almost as a mandala. A white lotus floats at the lower edge, carrying the grammar of temple ponds. Overhead perspective is rare in embroidered work, and it is what makes this one hold the eye. The mid-profile bucket shape makes the reds, oranges and blacks vibrate around the center. Wear it with an oversized black sweatshirt, technical trousers and chunky sneakers, or with a haori and a heavyweight white tee for something more deliberate. The brim earns its place in gardens and on pond paths. Made for people who keep koi, who visit the shows, and who look at textile work properly. 98% cotton, 2% elastane Mid profile, 7.5 cm (3 in) brim One size: 54.9-60 cm (21.6-23.6 in) Soft inner lining Flat seams and clean finishing