The Japanese national dress

A Kimono is an old tradition

Kimono is the Japanese national dress. It is made by craftsmen using traditional methods that have been passed down from ancient times. Every kimono is unique. Kimono is a fascinating representation of Japanese culture. The motifs and colours used represent Japanese landscape, plants, animals and the seasons of the year.

Prior to western influence, kimono was worn by all members of society and variations existed for all seasons and activities. Changes to Japanese society after the war and with the influence of western media such as television, Japanese society gradually reduced the wearing of kimono and began to adopt western dress. As a result, kimono is now a traditional representation of Japanese culture reserved for formal events such as weddings, shrine visits, traditional music, theatre and art performances, tea ceremony etc.

Modern Times

Hand sewing Kimonos

Kimono restricts the movement of the wearer, so it is necessary to have awareness and subtlety of movement when wearing kimono. By paying attention to body language, walking and sitting, the beauty of the garment is displayed and an art form is created that enhances the beauty of the wearer.

In modern times, the structure of kimono is often sewn by machine, but the details are still hand-sewn. Hand sewing reduces damage to the fabric by using a thin needle and one thread.

Since ancient times, people have disassembled old kimonos, mended and repurposed them. Because kimono is sewn in basic square or rectangular shapes, there is little wastage of fabric and new garments can be created. By changing the dimensions, you can take kimono apart and create new garments and objects. The simplicity of design found in kimono show the Japanese spirit of valuing used objects and repurposing them. Kimono is a valuable and beautiful object in Japanese culture that is passed down from generation to generation, from grandparents to parents to children.