I am a fan of karinui, those incomplete kimono that require expert tailoring skills to make wearable. Why? Because when it comes to disassembling a kimono, it doesn’t get any easier than tearing apart basted-together karinui. When purchased new, kimono are made to order. The weave, design, dyes, and family crests (depending on the formality…
Category: kimono
Defining styles: Arabesque
I had one of those slap-upside-the-head moments a few days ago while reading through a magazine on mid-century architecture. Looking at a page of beautiful gardens, there was an ornament described as being “Arabesque” and resembling something distinctly Arabic in design. Entirely logical, you might say, but to me, “Arabesque” has always meant either a…
Hidden gems in your local library
Two of my absolute favorite books for kimono and kimono-related research are The Traditional Crafts of Japan, volumes 1 and 2 of an eight volume series on traditional Japanese crafts published by Diamond, Inc. in 1992. The volumes are rich with historical background and gorgeous color photos, and are eye-catching in their brick red slip…
Where did the time go?!
Is it really June already? I’ve been avoiding this blog for a while. Nothing personal, just been busy working on two different businesses; KimonoMomo, and The Word Sniper, my writing/editing business. Letting go of KimonoMomo has been my intention for quite some time now, but it’s an ornery process, one that keeps dragging me back…
Kimono Aid for Japan
Thanks to the earthquake and ensuing crisis in Japan, KimonoMomo has been getting a lot of publicity. It’s not exactly what I had expected and makes me feel uneasy, but if I can use it to help others, I certainly will. While I would like to offer 100% of proceeds from my sales to help…
Kimono auctions to benefit Japan earthquake relief
Quick post to spread the word about Immortal Geisha’s eBay auctions to benefit earthquake relief in Japan. Beautiful vintage kimono and accessories are being offered and 100% of the proceeds will go to help those who need it most right now. Please take a look and place a bid on these gorgeous items.
Inside the modified yukata
Taking a closer look at our modified indigo shibori yukata, there are some interesting touches that signify this was very much a homemade or at least home-modified garment. The partial lining is from a tenugui, or cotton hand towel. It is very soft, and has been carefully tacked in such a way to give more…
Kimono or yukata sleeves too short? Modify!
When this floral-patterned shibori yukata caught my eye, I just couldn’t say no. I’ve been collecting vintage clothes my whole life (starting with hand-me-down baby clothes when I was an infant) and as some of you vintage collectors know, there are items that have a marvelous vibe to them, as if the previous owner imparted…
Meiji Ningyo Restoration, part VIII
Home at last. The little fellow arrived shortly after my previous post, but I had mixed feelings about his restoration and it’s taken some time for me to sort things out in my head to where I felt comfortable writing about it. If you’re just joining this series, click here to read part 1 and…
a little house cleaning
I am finding so many good things while getting ready to have the studio painted. When the physical part of cleaning and sorting gets tedious, I take a break and clean out old files from the KimonoMomo website. Among them I found this, a shot from several years ago when I dressed the staff of…
A Closer Look at Yukata fabrics
After handling these fabrics for several years, I often forget that many people have never seen a bolt (called a tan) of Japanese fabric, much less a kimono. Here are my thoughts on a question I am often asked: Why is the fabric so narrow? This is a bit of a chicken-and-egg question, as I’m…
Focus on Indigo part IV, Katazome
Today I present two katazome items, one from the SFAPA show and one from my personal collection. Click on the images to get a closer look. The first is from the Cavin-Morris Gallery in New York. It’s a stunning katabira (帷), an unlined (hitoe 単衣) ramie (jofu 上布) kimono for summer wear. This would have…
A love for both the common fiber and the extraordinary textile @KimonoMomo 