The Birth And Development Of The Kimono

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Introduction

Being influenced by Western fashion culture, I have been managing a select shop. One day, I turned my attention to Japanese culture and realized.

In the past, kimono was an everyday wear. Today, even high-quality ones are neglected and forgotten deep inside closets.

Meanwhile, I feel like Japanese people only care about things from overseas. If this continues, our own culture may be forgotten over time. I want to revive kimonos and create an opportunity for people to rediscover our traditional culture.

But how?

However, wearing a kimono requires a skill that is difficult to master for many. Then, what if I turn old kimonos into modern everyday wear = Western clothing? Modern everyday wear is cross-border. If I do this, wouldn’t the beauty of the revived kimonos be enjoyed by people not only in Japan but worldwide?

And that’s not all. The kimonos will be upcycled during the production process. So, it’s also positive for the environment. It kills two birds with one stone! (upcycling = using materials as they are and giving them new value to regenerate them)

This is how I decided to establish a new brand that focuses on remade kimono products.

The Birth And Development Of The Kimono

1. Ancient to Nara period (- 8th century): The dawn of the kimono

During the Jomon and Yayoi periods (over 2,000 years ago), people wore clothes made with animal fur and linen. In the Nara period (8th century), nobles wore long-sleeved clothing influenced by the Tang dynasty in China.

2. Heian period (9th-12th century): The birth of the prototype of the kimono

A simple clothing “kosode”, a prototype of the later kimono was born. Noble women wore luxurious layered “juni hitoe” and enjoyed the beauty of colors.

3. Kamakura and Muromachi (12-16th century): The era of samurai and commoner clothing

As samurais gained power, kosode became mainstream due to its comfortableness. Not only the samurais but also commoners chose kosode as everyday wear. The shape also became closer to today’s kimono.

4. Edo period (17th-19th century): Golden age of kimono culture

The Edo government set the rules for the design and material of kimonos for each social class and influenced the development of kimono culture. Beautiful dyeing techniques (such as Yuzen dyeing) and gorgeous obi tying were created. With the development of bourgeois culture, simple yet stylish clothing became popular.

5. Meiji Period (late 19th century): Influence of Western clothing and its effect

As Japan modernized, Western clothes (suits and dresses) became widespread, and kimonos became special occasion wear.

6. Modern Kimono (20th century -)

Today, the kimono is no longer a daily wear, but still worn as a traditional costume for special events (coming-of-age ceremonies, weddings, tea ceremonies, etc.). However, thanks to the new modern designs and rental services that have become popular in recent years, kimonos attract people’s attention domestically and globally.

Conclusion

The kimono is a traditional Japanese costume with more than 2,000 years of history. It has evolved with the times and is now cherished as formal wear. Kimono symbolizes Japanese culture and aesthetics and will continue to evolve in new ways.