The Japanese kimono can be considered today as one of the most beautiful and expensive traditional garments in the world, and its beauty comes not only from the impressive colors and features of its design, which emphasizes the taste for class and modesty of the one who wears it, but also in the painstaking way each one is made, reflecting its craftsman’s eye for beauty and expertise in creating one-of-a-kind Asian clothing that is capable of transcending time and culture.

The kimono in the history of Japan

In Japanese history, the term kimono originally meant “something to wear” and before the T-shaped, ankle-length robe with overlapping closure at the front that we know today was regarded as traditional Japanese dress , the kimono as traditional Japanese clothing actually went through several transformations in terms of style, fabric, and design, from being cylinder-shaped clothing with holes for the sleeves worn by Japanese farmers in the fields to the kimono that was designed after the Chinese. cheongsam and pants (for men) and skirts (for women) which, at one time, were worn with Korean-style jackets and ultimately with silken, ankle-length, wraparound robes that are tied at the waist with a obi. .

Japanese kimono design.

Japanese traditional clothing or kimono is a T-shaped ankle-length dress with long, wide flowing sleeves and an overlapping-style front closure design. It is then tied at the waist with an obi, which helps keep it wrapped around the body.

The types of kimono cloth.

Traditional Japanese kimono fabrics, such as Nishijin-ori, chirimén golden crepe, Kinran (gold brocade), and ginran (silver brocade), which are woven from natural silk threads, are used to make Japanese kimonos.

However, due to the current expensive cost of making and decorating kimonos that are made from these traditional Japanese kimono fabrics, direct or modern alternatives to them, such as silk, rayon, wool, brocade, jacquardpolyester and cotton, or a combination thereof, and are then detailed by hand or using a machine to mimic the look of traditional Japanese kimono fabrics.

Silk kimonos remain a classic favourite, especially for special occasions, while polyester kimonos are often prized for the way they mimic the look of silk kimonos at a fraction of the cost of the latter, and cotton or wool is often valued for wearing informal kimonos.

Kimono sleeves.

Wide, long, flowing sleeves distinguish a Japanese kimono from other kimono-style clothing. Since ancient times, kimono robes with extra-long swinging sleeves, the length of which can reach the knees, are reserved for the maiden, while those with shorter sleeves, or which can reach the waist, are worn by the married. women. For casual kimono robes or summer robes, called yukata, the distinguishing factor in the sleeves basically lies in whether it is worn by a man or a woman, and the yukata for men has shorter and looser sleeves compared to the yukata for women. .

Kimono Obi belt.

The obi belt of Japanese kimonos is, on average, twelve (12) inches wide, and can be made using the same shade and color of fabric as the kimono or a different one. A small pillow is usually secured to the back of the woman wearing a kimono to keep her obi belt and kimono secured, or the obi may be tied in a decorative way, such as in a bow or butterfly shape, to serve like a beautiful detail on the back of the kimono robe.

Details and Designs of Kimonos.

The stunning design of a Japanese kimono can be painted, dyed, or embroidered on its fabric, or it can be made by specially dyeing the silk threads that will be used to make them and carefully weaving them to make a kimono robe with the pattern desired by the user. craftsman or its user.

Figures and images of cherry blossom, chrysanthemum, lotus, peony, phoenix, autumn leaves and Japanese geisha are popular motifs of Japanese kimono robes for women, while patterns of dragonfly, dragon and kanzi script, as well as wavy, scratched, or repeated solid block figures are common among Japanese men’s kimonos.

kimono size

Japanese kimonos can usually be worn in one or two size ranges due to the loose design, so you never have to worry about your kimono becoming too small over time.

How long does it take to make a Japanese kimono?

Kimono robes can be completed in as little as one day or as little as six (6) months, depending on the simplicity or complexity of their design, the expertise of their maker, and the availability of the fabrics used to make them. .

How to save when buying a Japanese kimono?

It’s normal to find very fine, new kimono robes today that cost as much as a new sedan, however, you can definitely still save when buying an authentic Japanese kimono by buying vintage or used kimonos; old but still good kimono fabrics, which come from old kimono fabric rolls or obtained from dismantled kimonos; Or you can buy the out-of-season varieties or dead stock from Japanese kimono makers, Japanese kimono shops, or Asian shops around the world.