The history of the Kimono

[`evernote` not found]
Digg にシェア
LinkedIn にシェア
StumbleUpon にシェア
Pocket

Print

It has been said that the current pattern of the Kimono was from the Edo era. The Twelve-layered ceremonial kimono is an item from an older era. And there are differences when comparing this to the current Kimonos.

The late Edo era is a peaceful era and it is known that various cultures evolved during this time. It is believed that the Kimono culture was developed and established during this time.

Western clothes were trending during the Meiji era so these were worn during this time. Despite that, Japanese clothing has been a norm for the masses and it can be said that the Kimono culture was born and established during the Edo era.

The Taisho Era is the era which is painted in “Haikara san ga tooru” (Here comes ‘Miss Modern’). The kimonos were influenced by the Western style and there were created gorgeous things. The most popular antique kimonos were in general those from this Era.

Actually, we are not talking about such old times, as the second half of Showa Era, when the Western style clothing started spreading and the kimonos began to be worn only on special occasions. People thought once that the kimonos were out of fashion, but it was reconsidered as a fashion item, and recently, the number of people wearing kimonos increased.

 

How to enjoy kimono out of the pattern

[`evernote` not found]
Digg にシェア
LinkedIn にシェア
StumbleUpon にシェア
Pocket

着物

Kimono and obi, which can be used for a long time, will get so dirty and worn that you can’t wear them. Even if you inherit a lot of kimonos, sometimes you don’t know what to do with them because your lifestyle has changed.

Beautiful kimono which is too small to wear can be used as interior articles. It is easy to use as a tapestry with a bar in its sleeves.

In the case you don’t know where to decorate with it or it is not worth decorating, you can use it as a remake material. Many people may hesitate to cut a kimono. However, people in the old days remade old kimonos again and again until the end.

It may be good for a kimono to be remade into a modern article and be cherished, instead of being put away.

A kimono in a good condition can be remade into a dress. If it has a lot of worn areas, you can cut out the unworn area to use for a patchwork. If the unworn area is quite large, it can be used for a bag, a pouch and a cushion.

Kimono for men

[`evernote` not found]
Digg にシェア
LinkedIn にシェア
StumbleUpon にシェア
Pocket

東洲斎写楽 大谷鬼次と富士山のイメージイラス

When we try to study about kimonos, most of them are for women. It may be because it is “not masculine” for a man to get interested in fashion such as kimonos. Of course, however, there are some men’s kimonos and many men like kimonos.

You can fashion after a rakugo performer wearing kimono. The formal style is a haori coat and a hakama skirt with five crests, which can be seen in Announcement of a newly-assumed name. In a more relaxed performance, you can see various kinds of kimonos from casual to formal style.

The biggest difference between women’s kimono and men’s kimono is that men’s kimono doesn’t have “ohashori”. Men’s kimono can be put on easily because you don’t have to fix ohashori. Men’s obi is thinner than women’s obi. It is tied as kainokuchi (shell’s mouth) and ichimonji (straight line), whose knots are not so big.

There is a custom of printing eraborate patterns in the backing cloth of haori (haura) and juban (kimono slip) because men’s kimono is simple.
Some of women’s haura and juban are gorgeous. But many of men’s haura and juban have such a tremendous impact that there are collectors of those.

The things you shoud be careful when you wear Japanese Kimonos

[`evernote` not found]
Digg にシェア
LinkedIn にシェア
StumbleUpon にシェア
Pocket

Beautiful young woman wearing japanese traditional kimono

Sometimes people don’t know how to walk when they wear Kimonos for the first time. It’s because their feet are wrapped up completely, so it makes hard to step forward. But no need to worry it’ll be ok and you will find it comfortable as you walk.

Though, hems of Kimono will be rolled up if you stride , so it’s better to walk in small steps than usual.

The front part of the Kimono (Uwamae) will curl up and be seen during days with strong winds or when climbing up or down the stairs. If you are somewhat conscious of “that thing”, then you can lightly press it with your right hand. Due to this, it is better that you do not bring any big luggage in your right hand.

You will tend to forget about the long sleeves when you are not used to wearing it. Please take caution to avoid hooking the sleeves when picking up things. In addition, the belt might be tangled by people or things in narrow areas. This is also a reason that the belt gets dirty for extra care is needed.

How to maintain your kimono in good shape

[`evernote` not found]
Digg にシェア
LinkedIn にシェア
StumbleUpon にシェア
Pocket

Beautiful asian kimono woman on white background

When you take off your kimono, hang and dry it out of direct sun light. Use a hanger dedicated to kimono, and don’t you standard hangers because those make the shoulder of kimono getting out of shape.

The reason for drying out of direct sun light is to remove the moisture trapped in fabric while wearing, so it is enough only for several hours. If it is a long time, it may cause to get out the lining from proper position with respect to the outer fabric: it also causes discoloration due to the sun light.

When the kimono is dried enough, it is better to fold it over as soon as possible. While drying, please shake of dust.

Please wash gently with a soft cloth and use a soft brush. During the old days, I was told to wipe the collar with benzene but it won’t get that much dirt if you only wear it once in a while. You might damage the Kimono if you fail so I cannot recommend it due to the risk and the effect.

Request the cleaning with a professional. The go clothing store will introduce one if you consult with them. The cleaning frequency would differ depending on the number of times it is worn, but please think of it as a lower frequency compared to ordinary clothes.
Kimonos are prone to damage when washed.

The feature of yukata

[`evernote` not found]
Digg にシェア
LinkedIn にシェア
StumbleUpon にシェア
Pocket

1013246_447357962059795_2108464713_n

The biggest difference between yukata and kimono is whether you wear undergarment or not. Since you do not wear underwear, yukata is believed to be informal and it is thought to be rude to wear yukata for a formal table.  Also you do not wear tabi socks.
Since you do not wear tabi, you wear geta, not zori sandals.

However, those who are not accustomed to wear geta on barefoot sometimes hurt their feet, so you can wear thin tabi. Moreover, unless you use a thin obi belt, it does not fit yukata. Thus half-width obi made of one cloth is used for that.

Though you can use a short-lined half-width obi belt, the thick obi does not fit yukata, so you should use the thin one. Recently the reversible obi is popular so short-lined ones are apparently rather used more.  Since it is half-width obi, sash pillow, obi bustle, and obi fastener are not needed.

As for obi-ita plate, some people use it because it makes their clothing more beautiful, and others do not use because it is enough without the plate. You can decide as you like. Since you do not have to prepare so much and dressing is easier, you can begin the dressing with yukata if you want to learn it by yourself.

Obidome

[`evernote` not found]
Digg にシェア
LinkedIn にシェア
StumbleUpon にシェア
Pocket

Obi Dome is a decorative accessory put on a Obi JIme cord.

Typically it is put on so-called Sanbu Himo which is a short and little thin Obi Jime though larger Obi Dome can be put on regular Obi Jime.

In general, you don’t use Obi Dome for formal kimono, but this is not because Obi Dome is for casual use but because formal kimono use thick Obi Jime therefore it is merely difficult to put it on. So, it’s common to see people attend to ceremony wearing Homongi with Obi Dome.

However, It’s better not to use Obi Dome for Tea ceremony. It doesn’t suit for Tea ceremony which values simplicity and also there is a norm not to bring in hard materials with you to the ceremony for it might cause some damages on tea items.

There is no strict rule for Obi Dome, so as long as it goes good with kimono, you can pick whatever you like. Some people arrange their brooch to make it.

There is a type of Obi Dome you put it on after you tie Obi Jime not before you tie it. This type is easier to use but you have to be careful because sometimes it falls.

Obijime

[`evernote` not found]
Digg にシェア
LinkedIn にシェア
StumbleUpon にシェア
Pocket

Obijime is a final cord to fasten the tied Obi.

If this cord come untied, Otaiko will also fall, so it’s very important item. In addition,since it comes to the center of Obi, it stands out very much.

There are designed Obijime but it’s better to use easy to fasten ones until you get used to it.  A simple braided style cord would be recommended for beginners. Maruguke style cord which cotton core is wrapped by cloth is also easy to fasten, but it’s rarely seen recently.

There are Hanha Obi for summer and winter. Yurugi gumi style of Obi Jime and Sanbu Himo,which is used to put on Obi Dome, can be wear for all seasons.

Kumi Himo Style Obijime which is for summer is loosely braided. It looks lacy and cool, but since it is loosely braided, it made by hard cords so it would be hard to tie until you get used to it.

Hanha obi doesn’t need Obi Dome but it’s common to use it as an accessory. In this case, you won’t get into trouble if it loosen, so you can enjoy it by selecting rare material cords or knotting it into unique shapes.

Obi age

[`evernote` not found]
Digg にシェア
LinkedIn にシェア
StumbleUpon にシェア
Pocket

Obi age is a cloth to secure the shape of the tied knot of obi.

However, nowadays obimakura plays that role except some occasions, so obiage is positioned as a decorating cloth to cover the obimakura and adjust the top of the obi. Hanhaba obi which doesn’t need obimakura, doesn’t also need obiage, but sometimes you use it as a decoration.

There are tricks for tying them elagantly, and it might be hard if you’re not used to it. One way to do it is not to make a knot, just adjust the shape and insert it between the obi and datejime.

Obiage for winter and summer are distinguished, and there are differences in ranks. Basically, translucent materials are for summer, and otherwise for winter.

Material mainly used are shibori, rinzu, and chirimen. For furisode, obiage with soshibori (elagant patterns on the whole cloth) is normally used, not only because it needs to have high quality, but also because the obiage needs to have volume in order to match with kimono and the obi. For formal kimonos, white obiage with golden strings is the basic, and rinzu or shibori is used.

When wearing casual kimonos, some people enjoy by using rectangular scarves, or items made by cutting cloths.

Hanhaba obi

[`evernote` not found]
Digg にシェア
LinkedIn にシェア
StumbleUpon にシェア
Pocket

Hanhaba obi is a full-lengthed obi which has half a width of normal obi. It is a basic rule to wear it with komon or casual kimonos, and not for formal kimonos. Meanwhile, when wearing hakama, you wear hanhaba obi under your hakama whether you wear furisode or iromuji.

The characteristic of hanhaba obi is that it is easy to use. There is no complicating rules because it’s for daily use, and you can tie them freely. There is no specific rules for patterns or materials, so some people make it by themselves with their favorite cloth.

When tying them by yourself, you tie it in front of your body, and bring it to your back. It is dramatically easy to tie compared to Nagoya obi and fukuro obi which you have to make the shape at your back, and even beginners can make beautiful shapes by practicing a little.

There are a few basic ways to tie, for example bunko (book), or shell’s mouth, but bow tie is just fine, and some people make complicated shapes by using subsidiary ropes. You need considerable length to make a complicated shape, but recently obi with relatively long lengths are sold for that purpose.