Top Interesting Things You Must Know About Japanese Kimonos

Japan is a country best known for its beautiful temples, fantastic culture, the vibrant entertainment industry, mouth-watering delicacies and last but not the least, their finely made traditional costume – the kimono. The kimono has been around since time immemorial. Their cuts, styles and designs changed every era to adapt to the demands and needs of the people. Below are some of the most interesting things about the kimono that you probably don’t know yet.

Made from the finest materials

The traditional kimono used expensive materials such as silk, which meant that only high-born individuals could afford to wear one. Today, a lot of kimonos are made from cotton, rayon and polyester to cater to a broader market.

Most of the kimonos worn by men and women from 1192 to 1338 (Kamakura period) were brightly coloured. Later in the Edo period (1603 to 1868), specific designs were used to identify samurais that led each domain. There are a lot of Japanese textile artists who specialise in creating kimonos. One of them was Itchiku Kubota who is best known for his Kubota Collection. Each piece of kimono included in the Kubota Collection was created using a unique dyeing method. The fabric dyeing technique was used by crafters back in the 15th century.

When to wear a kimono

Kimono is a Japanese term for clothing. During the ancient times, kimonos barely came with colourful and intricate designs. They were made from simple types of fabric and sewn as a one- or two-piece item of clothing. Both Japanese males and females used to wear kimonos every day.

Today, they only wear them during special formal occasions such as weddings, funerals, and summer festivals. As a rule of thumb, you must choose a design or colour that is appropriate for an event. For example, if you need to attend a funeral, you should select darker shades like black, brown or dark blue. Also, if you are unmarried, you should only wear a furisode, a type of kimono that has long sleeves.

The deeper meaning of the designs

According to experts, the surface decoration of a kimono reflects the social status, age, gender and wealth of the wearer. For example, women who rule wear elegant kimonos with flower or landscape embroideries. Women who belong to a merchant family will often wear kimonos with designs similar to characters and symbols they find in their favourite pieces of literature.

Brides, on the other hand, wear kimonos with embroidered cranes, bamboo and other auspicious symbols. Although modern kimonos no longer reflect social status, unlike before, they still make an outstanding testament to the beautiful culture of Japan.

Do you like wearing kimonos or have you tried wearing one yet? Tourists from all around the globe never miss the chance to wear kimonos when they visit the land of the rising sun. The next time you try wearing a kimono, we hope you will remember how this intricate piece of clothing tells a lot about the culture of the country and its people.