Kai is a name. It has different meanings in different languages. In Japanese, kai has a number of meanings, including “ocean” (海), “shell” (貝), “restoration” and “recovery”. Source: Wikipedia.
Okinami is the first pattern in the ‘Kai’ colourway. It features a dragonfly blue-green weft on an ecru warp. Another ‘Kai’ colourway release is Tian Ma. Oscha did a ‘rerun’ of Okinami Kai with Sea Island Cotton. Furthermore they did a variation on ‘Okinami Kai’ called Okinami Kaio.
Oscha introduced the Okinami pattern as a teaser on 12 December 2012. It’s inspired by ukiyo artist Katsushika Hokusai’s woodblock print “The Great wave off Kanagawa“.
Oscha hinted at the introduction introduction on 16 November 2012: “We also have a new design coming, which has been in the works since Oscha was first conceived so we’re really looking forward to sharing that with you all soon.”
After a few teaser close-up pics, Oscha posted more pictures in an album on Facebook on 12 December 2012: “Presenting a new pattern, 20% linen.” A more elaborate description about the development followed. “It’s really lovely to read your comments about Okinami – this was the first design I wanted to make when we started Oscha but couldn’t quite get it to work – then one morning I woke up and saw how it could come together! This Okinami is in the new ‘Kai’ colourway. It is not part of a collection so will be listed under ‘Solos’. We are currently planning to list it tomorrow afternoon – we’ll update with a time soon.”
A fan posted: “Aah, see how the Fades have been central in the design development for this gorgeous wrap? 
“
Okinami immediately had a lot of fans and it has remained a firm favorite with Oscha’s customers for years. Oscha ‘paused’ the pattern for a while but then re-introduced it again, eventually making it available for preorders again too.
A Juliet prototype piece was made into an Obimama carrier for Zoe, paired with Roses Juliet. Made before 2013: “This half-buckle wrap conversion is made by Jenn of Obimama from a Roses Juliet in cotton and wild silk and 100% cotton tester piece in Okinami Juliet. It is a tall stage 3 with zen straps measuring approx 70”. It has a 25″ extended waistband, buckle waist, internal linen/cotton layer, adjustable hood, neck roll and knee pads. “
Roses is the only pattern to date (2020) in this particular colourway.
There was a teaser on Oscha’s Facebook page on 4 December 2012: “Just for fun – what would a special edition Oscha ‘Kate’ wrap look like? 
“. There was a link included in the post, mentioning that William and Kate (Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) are expecting a baby. There were quite a lot of comments mentioning blue and white roses in that thread.
Meaning: “A smooth light fabric of cotton, linen, etc, with white weft and a coloured warp”. Source: Collins Dictionary
The second preorder of the My Oscha preorder group that first did a mug preorder. This preorder features throws and baby blankets on the “Frost” grad, with selected patterns Misty Mountains, Ancients of Gondor, Starry Night and Victoriana. Blend: 65% bamboo viscose, 35% tencel.
First throw was sent out in time for the group admin’s birthday on January 22nd 2018. The big batch went out on January 25th. It was then discovered that because the throws and baby blankets are woven to order, and different yarns have different shrink rates, the final products turned out to be longer than expected, but also narrower. Sometimes by as much as 20cm either way. Average dimensions should have been: approx 190cm x 135cm, about 400 gsm for the throws and approx 90cm x 70 cm, 400gsm for the baby blankets.
Disappointed customers could return their items for a full refund. Oscha promised to make it clearer for future preorders that the sizes would be approximate and could vary.
“Named for the substance made from Mithril, Ithildin is used to create magical inscriptions which are only revealed when the correct incantation is said in the reflected light of the Moon and stars.”
A colourway unique to the Middle Earth Collection, the first pattern released in this colourway was Ancients of Gondor. Woven with black and silver, Ithildin is a colourway very suitable to the silvery White Trees.
A substance devised by the Noldor Elves for special outdoor inscriptions. It was derived from the rare metal mithril. Ithildin means moon-star, for it gleamed in response to starlight and moonlight, but only when touched by those speaking the right incantation. The inscriptions on the Doors of Durin were wrought of ithildin. Source: Wikipedia.
Source: Wikipedia
Sundara Roesse gets its name from Roesse fuchsias, a type of fuchsia hybridised by Carel Roes (The Netherlands). Fuchsia’s are known for their vibrant magenta/pink/purple flowers. This makes it a fitting name for a wrap of the Fuchsia Edition of the Botanical Collection. Source: Roessefuchsia.com
Midnight is the transition time period from one day to the next: the moment when the date changes. In ancient Roman timekeeping, midnight was halfway between sunset and sunrise, varying according to the seasons. Source: Wikipedia. Shui Long Midnight continues a colourway first started with the release of Starry Night Midnight (released in a 100% cotton and a bamboo/cotton blend).
The original ‘Midnight’ was a Dyed Grad, that has since been renamed to Midnite. I think it was renamed so as to avoid confusion regarding colourways between the jacquard woven range (black warp and ecru weft) and the dyed gradations on linen (dyed white or natural linen).
Ismay is a name, meaning ‘esteemed’ or ‘beloved’. It is said to be derived from ‘aestimatus’ meaning esteemed, or ‘amatus’ meaning loved. It may be derived from the name ‘Esme’. However one reference has been found that says otherwise: Unusual old germanic compound name possibly meaning ice or iron maiden. In use since the 13th cntury in England (spelled variously Ysemay, Isemay, Ysmay and Isamaya), Ismay is possibly related to the name Ismenia. Source: Babynamewizard.com.
Amity means ‘friendship’. Derived from the Latin ‘amicitas’ and ‘amicus’ which means ‘friend’. For a long time, the other wrap named Amity was the first Starry Night, then called ‘green-ecru’, made in the very early days of Oscha Slings. Of the SN Amity, only 3 wraps and 1 ring sling were made.
In 2016, Amity returned in the Silent Night pattern as part of a Christmas stocking.
Islay (aɪljə/ eye-lə; Scottish Gaelic: Ìle, pronounced [ˈiːlə]) is the southernmost island of theInner Hebrides of Scotland. Known as “The Queen of the Hebrides”, it lies in Argyll just south west of Jura and around 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of the Irish coast. Islay is the fifth-largest Scottish island and the seventh-largest island surrounding Great Britain, with a total area of almost 620 square kilometres (239 sq mi).
Its landscapes have been celebrated through various art forms and there is a growing interest in renewable energy. Islay is home to many bird species such as the wintering populations of Greenland white-fronted and barnacle goose, and is a popular destination throughout the year for birdwatchers. The climate is mild and ameliorated by the Gulf Stream. The fractal coast has numerous bays and sea lochs, including Loch an t-Sailein, Aros Bay and Claggain Bay. Source: Wikipedia.
No poetic names yet, just a simple colour description of the warp and weft colours used for this wrap.
Ecru describes the shade greyish-pale yellow or a light greyish-yellowish brown. It is often used to describe such fabrics as silk and linen in their unbleached state. Ecru comes from the French word écru, which means literally ‘raw’ or ‘unbleached’. Source: Wikipedia.
The 2016 additions to the Romeo and Juliet collection are all named by phrases from Shakespeare’s play. The term Fiend Angelical appears to be an oxymoron, both devil and angel, referring to Romeo whom she loves but cannot love.
JULIET
O serpent heart hid with a flowering face!
Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave?
Beautiful tyrant! Fiend angelical!
Dove-feathered raven, wolvish-ravening lamb!
Despisèd substance of divinest show,
Just opposite to what thou justly seem’st.
A damnèd saint, an honorable villain!
O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell
When thou didst bower the spirit of a fiend
In moral paradise of such sweet flesh?
Was ever book containing such vile matter
So fairly bound? Oh, that deceit should dwell
In such a gorgeous palace!
Yuki is Japanese for ‘snow’, which seems to fit this natty prototype with wool very well. I think the Japanese Knot Ooki prototype was named Yuki by its testers; the name was later adopted by Oscha. There was also a Japanese Knot Chiisai Yuki prototype made in the same blend.
28 February 2012: “We have a few prototype thick wool ecru/ecru Japanese Knot Ooki wraps available if anyone is interested in trying something a bit different! The label says 46% lambswool, 34% cotton, 20% linen, but the wool content is actually higher as the yarn is thicker than the one we used in our winter woolly range this year. Please be aware that these will require some breaking in but are extremely supportive and super cosy. This is what we have:
1 x 4.8 pre-wash (should end up a long 5…/short 6, this one is slightly narrower than the others) £113
1 x 3.2m (so will end up a long 2/short 3) £95
1 x size 4 £107
1 x size 1 £83
1 x RS £83”
August 2012: “Quite a while ago we sold some JK Yuki (ecru/ecru) THICK wool prototypes (so thicker than the regular weight lambswool wraps that were part of the Solstice Collection). We were wondering if anyone who purchased one or know of someone who did would mind getting in touch to let us know how you’re getting on with them? We’d love to hear from you 
”
“Would you maybe send us an email about how you found the ooki, especially as you’ve had the regular wool wraps to compare it to? We’d especially like to know about breaking it in – length of time/if it softens quite easily. We tried them out and felt they were very cushy, supportive and cosy but possibly a little beastly! So would just like to know if the wool feels ok, especially after some use. I think this blend had linen in it as well.”
“The chiisai was our original tester for the wool wraps so all the woolies we’ve done are the same weight as it. The ooki was a much thicker wrap, and the wool content in it is higher.”
Customer feedback:
“I however can tell you that it was by far the most supportive RS I have ever tried, it worked with both my pre-schooler and my toddler..and they are top percentile for their age. ”
“I had the chii saii version. It was thick and supportive. After a good over night conditioning it softened up a bunch. It was still very scratchy after that. I tried sitting on it, pulling it though rings, twisting it etc. it softened a bit more but still too scratchy for my delicate skin. I ended up trading it for another Oscha. ”
“I have a long Chiisai Yuki and an Ooki Yuki shorty. The latter is great as a shorty for a teething baby – just the right amount of thickness and cush for a warm one-layer carry. I do not find it beastly at all, but you that I like my wool scratchy. 
“
Oban (An t-Òban in Scottish Gaelic meaning The Little Bay) is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William. During the tourist season, the town can play host to up to 25,000 people. Oban occupies a setting in the Firth of Lorn. Source: Wikipedia.
A truly peaceful, calm colourway in ecru and black, Zen is and has been a very popular colourway since the beginning. A ‘jeans wrap’ to be combined with almost anything you’re wearing, you can’t go wrong with an Oscha Zen wrap.
Zen originated in China and developed as a distinguished Chinese style of Buddhism. Zen emphasizes rigorous meditation-practice and insight into Buddha-nature. It also emphasizes the personal expression of this insight in daily life, especially for the benefit of others. As such, it de-emphasizes mere knowledge of sutras and doctrine and favors direct understanding through zazen and interaction with an accomplished teacher. Source: Wikipedia.
Jura is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, adjacent and to the north-east of Islay. Compared with its fertile and more populous neighbour, Jura is mountainous, bare and infertile, covered largely by vast areas of blanket bog, hence its small population. In a list of the islands of Scotland ranked by size, Jura comes eighth, whereas ranked by population it comes thirty-first. It is in the council area of Argyll and Bute. Source: Wikipedia.
Japanese Knot Chiisai
Japanese Knot Ooki
Starry Night
Shui Long
First introduced as ‘The Juliets’, Alto, Starry Night and Roses Juliet were the not the first wraps to be made in this colourway: it was a warp especially dyed for the Natural Mamas preorder. Later, Juliet would become a beloved part of the Romeo and Juliet collection.
Juliet Capulet is the female protagonist and one of two title characters in William Shakespeare’s romantic love tragedy Romeo and Juliet. Juliet is the only daughter of Capulet, the patriarch of the Capulet family. The story has a long history that precedes Shakespeare himself. Source: Wikipedia.
As referred to in the description, white clouds drifting by in a blue sky – ‘drift’ features white clouds in a blue sky.
I believe the name refers to a plant that is commonly known as Harebell, but known in Scotland as Bluebell. In the British Isles, harebell flowers from July to November. Source: Wikipedia.
More info on Blackthorn
More info on Eventide
Notes on the colour: The Eventide colourway is supposed to have the same indigo blue colour as the Nebula colourway. However it seems that Alto Eventide was a tad lighter than the Nebula’s released before Alto Eventide.
“The colour is much bluer and deeper than Aequus.” (15 January 2013)
“So looks like you guys were right and the Alto Eventide is a bit lighter than Nebula was – all the threads are dyed to order so I guess this batch came out a little differently than before. Its not a massive difference but it is there, the original Nebula is a bit darker and bit bluer. This Eventide is still lovely though ;).” (16 January 2013)
Generally speaking, each unique colour combination gets its own name. Wrap names usually consist of two elements: pattern and colourway. For example, Roses Noel refers to the Roses pattern, in the ‘Noel’ colourway (red warp, green weft).
Oscha mostly names her colourways based on colour alone, regardless of blend. This means that items with the same colourway name can be different blends or different patterns. Examples of this are Starry Night Nebula (100% cotton or 75% cotton, 25% wild silk) and Sekai Riva (cashmere blend or linen blend).
Colour variations may exist between wraps of the same name. For instance, wraps with an ecru weft like Nebula may slightly vary because ‘ecru’ means ‘undyed’, and undyed yarns have many subtle shades of creamy, musroomy colours. Have a look at the differences between the undyed yarns (warp & weft) in the Aiko, Serene and Vanilla colourways, for example! It seems that for these, the shade of the undyed yarn (and for the Vanilla’s, the blend, i.e. linen) defines the name of the wraps. Aiko is more musroomy while Serene is slightly lower contrast – but none of them as ‘low’ as the Ivory’s.
In a few cases identical colourways but different blends have received different names, for example Okinami Evie and Okinami Orkney.
Since the rise of preorders where wraps also need to be named, there has been no check on ‘unique’ colourways anymore, so a single colourway name may refer to two very different colourways. Oscha has also used colourway names more than once, for example Ladybirds Paris (purple and pink) & Raja Paris (bordeaux and red).