The haramaki – Mum was right after all

@Fleura (35049)
United Kingdom
October 21, 2015 9:35am CST
My Mum always used to make us laugh by going on about the benefits of wearing long underwear to keep one’s kidneys warm. Well it turns out she was right after all, a theory also espoused by the Japanese since the 12th century and now becoming popular over here. A Haramaki is basically a tube of fabric to keep your midriff warm, the theory being that it helps maintain the body’s core temperature and aids the functioning of the internal organs. Since I started working at home and we rarely have the heating on I needed something to maintain my core temperature! You can buy haramaki from various trendy online boutiques but I made one myself quite easily (yes @Boingboing I sound like that character from Goodnes Gracious Me again) from a strip of stretchy fabric. Since layering is fashionable at the moment you can be warm and trendy too! All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2015.
9 people like this
8 responses
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
21 Oct 15
What! No small aubergine? It's a great idea. I like the sound of these.
1 person likes this
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
21 Oct 15
@Fleura Indeed it is. They could be haramakis for bears.
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (35049)
• United Kingdom
21 Oct 15
It's just like your tube hat but wider : )
rahul pillai
@rahulvsmokiee (3110)
• Thiruvananthapuram, India
21 Oct 15
My friend is it available in here? I am from india. I dont think it is inhere in amazon.in website.
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (35049)
• United Kingdom
21 Oct 15
They're quite expensive to buy but really very easy to make.
1 person likes this
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
21 Oct 15
It's hard to imagine you'd need one in Southern India.
1 person likes this
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
27 Oct 15
That is a thought. But a camisole will do the same. My mom said to always cover your shoulders when you sleep and I am beginning to see wisdom in that as well and at least in cooler weather making sure my sleep clothes cover my shoulders. It seems to help with reducing pain.
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (35049)
• United Kingdom
27 Oct 15
Yes you're right, a long woollen vest (camisole) is what my mother favoured!
AnjaP
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
21 Oct 15
They actually make those little stretchy tubes for people to wear under shirts and make it appear that they have layers. I would probably crochet myself one.
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (35049)
• United Kingdom
23 Oct 15
Good idea. I sewed myself one from some stretchy fabric.
Anna
@LadyDuck (502533)
• Italy
21 Oct 15
I have something similar made in pure wool, my Mom gave it to me, I believe it is almost 60 years old, but it works.
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (35049)
• United Kingdom
21 Oct 15
Many ideas have been around a long time, they just get re-invented by new generations!
1 person likes this
paigea
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
19 Dec 15
I like being warm, but usually use an undershirt or camisole of some kind. Your haramaki looks great.
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (35049)
• United Kingdom
20 Dec 15
Thanks! I wear it a lot on cold days, with a camisole (vest) as well. It can get cold here, especially if I am just sitting still working, but we don't usually have the heating on.
Marlina
@marlina (154103)
• Canada
22 Oct 15
First time ever I read about the existence of a Haramaki
1 person likes this
Carol Brown
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
26 Oct 15
I'd never heard of these, but it sounds wonderful. I learned to layer when I moved to the Pacific Northwest. I still have leg warmers and wear them when it snows here, even though they're out of fashion. Comfort is my Number One priority when it comes to clothing!
1 person likes this