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The kimono is intrinsically associated with Japanese culture. As the national dress, the garment holds a unique place in the country's history. Colorful, complex, and iconic, the kimono serves as a canvas for all types of traditional, powerful, and meaningful designs. Indeed, it's one of the finest examples of how clothing confers a sense of place and identity. But how did this beautiful item of dress evolve, and why is it worn?
Click through and find out more about the culture behind the kimono.
Clothing similar in style to a kimono first appeared in Japanese society during the Heian period (794–1192), apparel composed of straight cuts of fabric sewn together to create a simple garment suitable for every body shape.
By the Edo period (1603–1868) the design had evolved into a unisex outer garment called a kosode, the direct predecessor of the kimono.
It was during the Meiji period (1868–1912) that the kosode, widely worn in Japan as common, everyday dress, became known as the kimono.
Kimono literally means "the thing to wear." It's a unique cultural element that is intrinsically associated with the land, tradition, artisanship, language, and various other Japanese customs.
Kimonos are worn wrapped left side over right and secured with a sash called an obi.
The garment is commonly worn with accessories such as zōri sandals and tabi socks. Combs and pins worn in the hair are also important.
As a simple, straight-seamed garment, kimonos' wrap style allows for ease of movement, a deliberate design element useful in a culture where many activities are performed while seated on the floor.
Kimono designed to be worn in the hot, humid summer months are unlined. Those worn in winter a multi-lined.
The wearing of kimonos is a symbol of respect for tradition, culture, and history. It's why the garment embodies so much about what it means to be Japanese.
But it is the pattern, rather than the cut of a garment, that is significant. Different kimono designs are worn throughout the year to represent seasonal changes, auspicious occasions, and celebrations of significant calendar events.
Each motif intricately stitched onto these garments carries profound meanings. Indeed, indications of social status, personal identity, and cultural sensitivity are expressed through vivid color and ornate decoration.
The most popular bird depicted on kimonos is the crane. In Japanese folklore, the crane has a lifespan of 1,000 years and symbolizes longevity and good fortune.
Kimonos with cherry blossom and plum blossom motifs are designs synonymous with spring.
In Japanese culture, the butterfly represents metamorphosis. Butterflies are often depicted on the furisode sleeves of kimonos worn by young women during seijinshiki, or coming-of-age ceremonies.
The peony, known colloquially as the king of flowers and revered for its beauty, is another very popular kimono motif.
Furisode kimonos are designed for single females and feature a number of different motifs that can include large fans, snowflake, bamboo, chrysanthemum, and other plant motifs. It's a garment that expresses hopes for happiness, good luck, and longevity.
Miyamairi kimonos are worn by girls visiting a Shinto shrine for the first time. The garment is decorated with flowering autumn plants—peonies, chrysanthemums, hibiscus, balloon bell, and ominaeshi herb.
The aesthetic appeal of a kimono is enhanced by colors, all of which have strong metaphorical and cultural meanings.
The most significant color, according to Japanese culture, is green, which represents new beginnings and good fortune.
A white kimono symbolizes growth, while blue represents peace. A red kimono is associated with love. Pictured is a woman wearing a predominantly blue kimono playing a traditional koto, the national instrument of Japan.
It wasn't just kimonos for women that began to take shape during the Heian period. Kimonos for men were also being designed and worn.
The main distinctions between modern men's kimonos are in the fabric and the design.
Most kimonos designed for men are of subdued, dark hues. Common colors are black, dark blues and greens, and occasionally brown.
Fabrics are usually matte. Some have a subtle pattern, and textured fabrics are common in more casual kimonos.
More casual men's kimonos may be of slightly brighter colors, including lighter purples, greens, and blues.
Almost any kimono outfit, for men or women, can be made more formal by wearing hakama and haori (pictured).
Sumo wrestlers, meanwhile, wear colorful, custom-made traditional yukata kimonos.
Today, only a small number of people regularly wear kimonos. The garment is generally reserved for formal occasions such as wedding ceremonies and funerals, or for summer events.
Kimonos, however, remain the best-known example of traditional Japanese fashion and serve as a reminder of Japan's core culture before the 20th century.
Sources: (JSTOR Daily) (Dress Your Color) (Japan Objects)
See also: 11 beautiful Japanese concepts to inspire better living
The culture behind the kimono
The iconic national dress of Japan
FASHION Japan
The kimono is intrinsically associated with Japanese culture. As the national dress, the garment holds a unique place in the country's history. Colorful, complex, and iconic, the kimono serves as a canvas for all types of traditional, powerful, and meaningful designs. Indeed, it's one of the finest examples of how clothing confers a sense of place and identity. But how did this beautiful item of dress evolve, and why is it worn?
Click through and find out more about the culture behind the kimono.