The Categories of Kimono, traditional Japanese clothes
Our Kimono for Women
Formal Kimono
TOMESODE
Tomesode are the most formal kimono worn by married women in Japan. There are either colored in black based or colorful based, and black one is more formal. They always have crests and the patterns decorated with gorgeous embroidery in the lower part of kimono. They maybe worn by guests at formal events, like a weddings.
Formal Kimono
FURISODE
FURISODE is a name of the type of Kimono, and it has a long sleeves about one meter. It is wore for formal occasions, and usually for unmarried women. However, it is fine to wear for unmarried women depending on the situation. FURISODE Kimono is very colorful and brilliant.
Wedding Kimono
UCHIKAKE
It is a kind of women’s formal wear for upper classes since fifteenth century, and it got this name because it is draped on Kosode which is a kimono with short sleeves as underclothing.
In modern times, brides are mainly used as ceremonial clothes. SHIROMUKU, White Innocence is also a type of uchikake and is also called white uchikake. On the other hand, the colored uchikake is called IRO UCHIKAKE.
The length is slightly longer than the kimono worn on the inside, and the hem has a thickened part with cotton called “buki”. “Fuki” is found in kimonos that pull the hem on the floor without making a sash like a uchikake, and the purpose is to prevent the costume from clinging to the legs by creating a thick part around the hem.
it also has the effect of making the height look taller than it actually is by applying the enhanced perspective.
In addition to embroidery, tie-dyed, applied gold leaf and sewn foil are used to create a pattern that draws a painting on the entire costume.
HIKI FURISODE
Hiki Furisode is a kimono that is worn by dragging the hem of a kimono without folding the edges, or a kimono with a long hem. It was a bridal gown used in weddings in nineteenth century to the beginning of twentieth century, and it was more main than Uchikake. At that time, it wasn’t a pull, but it was said that he used to fold the furisode on a black background and wear it to the length.
There were only the black-based furisode in the beginning, Like the origin of pure white, it has the meaning of “not dyeing anyone else”. It is also said to have meant “chastity.”
During the Edo period(1603-1867), black furisode was dressed as a maid working at the Shyogun palace. From the women of the merchants, the work of the maiden of the palace was a longing profession, so It is said that women started by imitating their wedding dress.
The long sleeves have become long hem. Furthermore, the colorful Hiki Furisode came out to seek more luxury not just with black based . Nowadays this Hiki Furisode is only found in geisha or brides.
The furisode is an attractive place where the way of tying the obi is not found in other kimonos.
Casual Kimono
It is wore in the informal scene, which is for going shopping, having tea with your friends, and going to taking an enrichment individual lessons and so on. We also have specially categorised kimono for Japanese classical dance in our collections. They are usually made from synthetic fibers. One of the casual kimono, Yukata is made from cotton and usually wore in hot summer time or when people practice Japanese classical dance. The sashes (=belt, it is called Obi) for casual kimono is usually casual Obi which is Nagoya obi, more simplified than Fukuro-obi, or half width of obi, Han Haba Obi.