"Echigo chijimi is a crepe fabric made with a traditional techniques in the Echigo region of north-central Japan. For over 1000 years, the places of its production have been regarded as a synonym for high quality fabric. One of the most important processes in making chijimi is sarashi (leaving the fabric outside on sunny days in winter). This enhances the brightness of the fabric's color,creating a famous late-winter scene: on a sunny day in February in the fabrics are left in the middle of snow-covered plains."