About this combination
Kon is the deepest grade of indigo — used for samurai undergarments, farmers' field clothes, and eventually Meiji-era school uniforms. Against the cream of unbleached cotton, it reads as straightforward, honest, and quietly formal.
Where it works
- School and academic branding
- Editorial for serious journalism
- Minimalist fashion
Historical context
This combination from Wada's catalog anchors Kon, Kinari and Sumi in the blue family — a 3-colour grouping with a refined, cool, austere character, recorded in the Meiji-era volumes of Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations, where these shikisai names have sat in the public domain for generations. Its strongest pairing — Kon on Kinari — reaches a contrast ratio of 12.55:1, clearing the WCAG AAA bar for body text, so it holds up for text-on-colour layouts as well as decorative use.