The Silk Kimono: a Short History
Though the kimono originated in China, they have been worn in Japan for hundreds of years, and the most beautiful kimonos were produced in 17th and 18th century Japan.
Traditionally, the cloth and color combinations indicated the political and social standing of the wearer and the colors of kimonos changed according to the time of year. The kimono is no longer a purely traditional robe.
Traditionally, all girls in Japan had to learn to master the arts of making clothes and sewing. But sewing was easier than in the west. The haori, kimono and girdle, and even the long hanging sleeves, had only parallel stitches. The garments were, as a matter of fact, taken apart for cleaning, and each piece, after being mildly stiffened, was stretched out on a board for drying, before being stitched back together.
There are many different kinds of silk kimono: the long-sleeved, beautiful kinds worn by young girls or geisha, the formal kimono stamped with the wearer’s family emblem and worn on formal occasions; kimono for men and children’s kimonos. A young woman would wear a kimono with long sleeves and an Obi, a broad silk or brocade band about twelve feet long and twelve inches wide. As she gets older, her kimono designs become smaller and the colors richer and deeper while the obi is worn lower and made narrower. Also, haori, a short knee-length kimono, is often worn too. Nowadays, a kimono is typically only worn for special occasions and is mostly worn by women, but certain men also wear this garb. Both haori and kimono may be hung on a hard wood hanging bar as wall art.
As an indulgent treat or ideal gift, 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 is related to the kimono, only it is made of light weight cotton and is more casual.
