Long length of polyester which is folded in the 'mountains and valleys' origami pattern. Pieces of dye transfer paper are inserted between the folds at the edges. The folds are permanently pressed in and the dye transfer effected in one step. The dye permeates the folds to varying degrees.

This object is currently resting in our storage facility. There are 4 other images of this object. See our image rights statement.

See more objects with the tag women's fashion accessories, collapsible, women's clothing, domestic interiors, decorative, repetition, accessories, sheer, ombre, iridescent, folded, pleats, origami, chevrons, draping.

Object Timeline

2002	Work on this object began.
2003	Work on this object ended.
2004	We acquired this object. We photographed this object.
2012	We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
2013	We photographed this object.
2014	We exhibited this object.
2016	You found it!

Textile, Origami Pleat, 2002–03

This is a textile. It was designed by Reiko Sudo and manufactured by NUNO Corporation. It is dated 2002–03 and we acquired it in 2004. Its medium is polyester and its technique is pleated, transfer printed, permanently pressed. It is a part of the Textiles department.

Origami Pleat was designed by Reiko Sudo, one of Japan’s most important contemporary textile designers. Educated at Musashino Art University, she and Junichi Arai were the co-founders in 1984 of the Japanese company and store, NUNO, which produces textiles of extraordinary ingenuity and beauty. Sudo and the other designers at NUNO combine tradition and advanced technologies with remarkable creativity, which led them to the forefront of textile design field.
Origami Pleat is a contemporary interpretation of centuries-old hand pleating. It is made by folding the polyester fabric at sharp, crisp angles—like origami (the Japanese art of folding paper). Its color gradation is achieved by sandwiching colored dye-transfer paper between the fabric and outer paper during the heat-transfer process. This process not only transfers the colors, but permanently presses the pleats. At the time of proposed acquisition, the special pleating process is patent pending.

This object was donated by NUNO Corporation. It is credited Gift of the Nuno Corporation.

Our curators have highlighted 13 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

Legth of sheer golden-yellow semi-transparent fabric with irregular creases texturing the surface.

Textile, Mica, ca. 1995–98
polyester yarn (weft), polyester slit film (warp).
Gift of The Museum of Modern Art, courtesy of the designer.
2002-17-3

Pangea Dress, from Spring / Summer 2015 Ready-to-Wear collection, 2014

Pangea Dress, from Spring / Summer 2015 Ready-to-Wear collection, 2014
nylon tulle, polyethylene, polyurethane, cotton, polyester, pvc, silk.
Courtesy of Mary Katrantzou.
14.2015.1a/c

The tripled floating warps of brown, orange, and yellow are stiffened with bookbinder's paste. Sheets of dye transfer paper in orange and yellow-green are crushed and inserted between the warps, and stitched in place with small running stitches.

Textile, Papillon, 1997–2004
synthetic fiber, color transfer paper.
Gift of Anonymous Donor.
2006-14-8

Its dimensions are

H x W: 553.7 x 94 cm (18 ft. 2 in. x 37 in.) Other (folded width): 7.6 cm (3 in.)

Cite this object as

Textile, Origami Pleat, 2002–03; Designed by Reiko Sudo (Japanese, b. 1953); Japan; polyester; H x W: 553.7 x 94 cm (18 ft. 2 in. x 37 in.) Other (folded width): 7.6 cm (3 in.); Gift of the Nuno Corporation; 2004-18-1

We have 2 videos that feature Textile, Origami Pleat, 2002–03.

Reiko Sudo on the Origami Textile

Textile designer Reiko Sudo describes the trial-and-error process behind creating the Origami Textile.

Object Timeline

Textile, Origami Pleat, 2002–03

Reiko Sudo on the Origami Textile

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