History of the Silk Kimono
Even though the kimono originally came from China, they have been worn in Japan for hundreds of years, and their great beauty is attributable to 17th and 18th century Japanese designers.
The combinations of color and cloth traditionally indicated the wearer’s political and social status and the kimono’s color changed according to the season. The kimono is no longer purely a traditional garment.
Traditionally, all girls in Japan learned to make their own clothes and sew. But sewing was simpler than in the west. The girdle, haori and kimono, and even the long-hanging sleeves, used only parallel stitches. The clothes were, as a matter of fact, taken apart for washing, and each piece, after being mildly stiffened, was stretched out on a board to dry, before being sewn back together.
There are many types of kimono pattern: the long-sleeved, beautiful types worn by young girls or geisha, the formal kimono stamped with the wearer’s emblem and worn on formal occasions; men’s kimonos and children’s kimonos. A young woman wears a kimono with long sleeves and an Obi, a broad brocade or silk sash about 12 feet long and 12 inches wide. As she grows older, her kimono designs become smaller and the colors richer and deeper while the obi is made narrower and worn deeper. In addition, haori, a short knee length kimono, is frequently worn too. These days, a kimono is usually only donned for special occasions and is primarily worn by women, but certain men still wear this garb. Both haori and kimono may be hung from a hardwood bar as wall art.
As an ideal gift or indulgent treat, kimono clothing is extremely versatile, and makes a welcome addition to anyone’s wardrobe.
Possibly the most popular color for a kimono is red, derived from safflower. The yukata has much in common with the kimono, only it is made of lightweight cotton and is less formal.
