What is a Kimono? A little look at the story of the well loved piece
The kimono is one of Japan’s most recognisable garments, with a long and fascinating history rooted in Japanese culture and craftsmanship. The word kimono literally means “a thing to wear”, and traditionally refers to a Japanese garment with a straight, T-shaped silhouette, wide sleeves and a wrap-front design secured with an obi.
Traditional kimono are much more than simply beautiful clothing. Different styles, fabrics, colours, patterns and ways of wearing them can communicate something about the wearer, including their age, marital status, season, occasion and social context. The making and wearing of kimono is also connected to highly developed traditions of textile production, dyeing, embroidery and pattern-making.
Over time, the kimono has also become a source of inspiration for designers around the world. Its elegant proportions, generous sleeves and beautiful relationship between fabric and movement have influenced contemporary fashion in many different ways. Today, you’ll often see kimono-inspired jackets, robes and loose-fitting outer layers worn as part of modern styling.
It is important, however, to distinguish these contemporary fashion pieces from the traditional Japanese kimono itself. A modern garment may borrow elements such as the wrap shape or wide sleeves without claiming to be a traditional kimono or representing Japanese dress. For me, that distinction is important when talking about my own pieces.
My silk kimonos are contemporary garments inspired by the beautiful simplicity of the kimono silhouette. They aren't intended to replicate traditional Japanese kimono or to replace the cultural meaning of the original garment. Instead, I use the idea of the open, flowing shape as a starting point for creating something distinctly my own.
The artwork is at the heart in focus aof my designs. I paint my botanical and floral illustrations in watercolour before transforming them into patterns that are digitally printed onto natural silk. The result is a relaxed, contemporary piece that can be worn as a layer over everyday clothes, dressed up for an evening, or simply thrown on at home.
What I love most about this style of garment is the way the silk moves around the body. There is something wonderfully fluid about putting on a beautiful piece of fabric and allowing the artwork to become part of how you move through the day.
For me, it is about taking inspiration respectfully from the qualities that make the kimono silhouette so enduring; its simplicity, versatility and beautiful relationship with fabric. While also creating something rooted in my own artistic practice and love of colour, pattern and nature.
