Samurai Garment

Armored samurai vest (manchira) to be worn under armor. Armored plates are concealed inside the vest which serves to both protect and provide additional padding against the cuirass. The exterior background is blue silk with multi-colored brocade of flowers and leaves using both metallic and ordinary thread. The fabric is edged with a pleated, tan cloth. The vest wraps around the wearer's body and is split into separate upper sections and lower sections. The two upper sections close with two sets of tan ties while the two lower sections close with only one set of ties. The interior is blue silk. A brigandine armored collar (tate-eri or eri-mawashi) is sewn to the collar of the manchira. Hexagonal iron plates (kikko) are sandwiched between layers of fabric with a top layer of orange cloth. Orange thread sewn through the kikko creates a pattern of orange squares where the armor plates sit. Green thread is then sewn around the kikko to create a visible honeycomb pattern. A green cord with an ivory toggle is attached at the base of the collar and serves to tighten it across the neck.