The Japanese kimono is one of the most iconic garments in the world and its fabric is just as unique. Japanese kimono fabric is available in a variety of kinds, colors and patterns, making it incredibly versatile and able to adapt to any situation.
Let’s explore the different kinds of kimono fabric, as well as how to care for them and how to choose the best fabric for your needs:
Definition of Kimono
Kimono is a traditional garment worn by Japanese people. The word kimono literally means “thing to wear” (ki “wear” and mono “thing”) in Japanese. It is usually made of one piece of fabric, often lined, and typically falling somewhere between the ankle and the knee in length.
Historically, kimono garments have been fashioned out of silk; however, other materials such as rayon or cotton can also be used to create contemporary designs. Kimono come in a variety of colors and decorative patterns; they are mainly seen in their full-length form but shorter-length jackets are also available. The traditional Japanese obi belt wraps around the waist to cinch a woman’s kimono at the waistline for an elegant look that has remained consistent for centuries.
History of Kimono
Kimono fabric has evolved over the past centuries to become the sophisticated and beautiful garment that is sought after today. With a long and intricate history spanning back to the mid-17th century, Kimono fabric is a carefully crafted, Japanese cultural treasure.
During the Edo era of Japan, from 1603 to 1867, interest in all aspects of textile production began to blossom. This period saw not just a rise in popular kimono designs but in luxury fabrics as well, notably silk and cotton brocades.
This increased attention on textiles impacted both commercial production as well as everyday wear-ability. As merchants became more affluent they began demanding increasingly elaborate fabrics as part of their overall kimono wardrobe. At the same time ordinary citizens were also able to afford dressier items due to new production methods that allowed these luxury items to become more affordable than ever before.
Early kimonos featured bold, colorful designs often inspired by nature, like Mt Fuji and cherry blossoms, or religious symbols like Kannon (the Bodhisattva of mercy). Patterns typically used multiple colors in repeating patterns which had profound meaning for the wearer—the way a person wore their pattern helped communicate status or membership within certain communities. Even today in modern Japan it’s not unusual for people with similar positions or interests to dress similarly during particular festivities.
Many techniques used during this era of kimono development remain unchanged today – with kata-ashi (splashed dyeing) being among the most distinctive and eye-catching motifs seen on any form of Japanese fabric even into modern times! The deep understanding of these traditional methods has enabled creators over hundreds of years to craft some truly impressive garments and represents an important source of national pride for Japan’s textiles industry going forward.
Types of Kimono Fabric
Kimono fabric is a traditionally woven material with a rich history that dates back centuries. There are a variety of types of kimono fabric, each with their own unique characteristics and uses. Common types of kimono fabric include silk, jacquard, cotton, and Mohair. Additionally, kimono fabrics need to be carefully washed and cared for in order to maintain their longevity and beauty.
Let’s take a look at the various kinds of kimono fabric available today:
Silk
Silk is one of the more popular kimono fabrics and it has been used in Japan since ancient times. It is lightweight and durable, making it a practical choice for everyday wear. Silk is found in a variety of colors and patterns, depending on the region that produces it. In Japan, silk comes mainly from Kyoto and was highly sought after during the Edo Period (1603–1868). Today, there are many different types of silk fabric used to make kimonos and other traditional clothing. Some common types include:
- Tsumugi: Tsumugi is a traditional Japanese fabric that combines two threads together known as “sai” and “hi”. This technique results in an elegant, soft texture with subtle nuances from the varying ratio of each thread used in its production.
- Kasuri: Kasuri is an indigo-dyed woven fabric with white threads creating patterns reminiscent of traditional Japanese designs such as clouds or tarumi symbolizing good fortune. This fabric was typically worn by samurai warriors centuries ago but can now be found on many modern kimonos and formal pieces of clothing today.
- Kinran: Kinran fabric has a unique glow created by golden threads woven into a shimmering silk base cloth that changes based on how the light hits it – creating an almost ethereal look when worn. Popular amongst aristocratic families up until the Meiji era, this type of fabric is usually quite expensive due to its labor-intensive production method.
- Haori: Haori is an outer garment made from thickly woven silk threaded together with cotton for extra warmth during colder months or for added formality for special occasions such as weddings or festivals. The traditional pattern features various motifs including cranes, clouds and waves which have symbolic meanings to Japanese culture that represent auspicious expectations for festivals or life events like births or marriage anniversaries.
Cotton
Cotton is the most common type of fabric used for making traditional Japanese kimonos. It is lightweight, breathable, and offers excellent durability. Cotton also has a softer draping quality than many other fabrics, making it ideal for creating intricate designs. While cotton is generally considered a summer material, it can be used in cooler climates with thicker and more winterized fabrics available. Fuwa-Fuwa velvets are popular for cooler weather kimonos due to their extra warmth.
Rayon is produced from regenerated cellulose derived from wood pulp or cotton linter, making it one of the most eco-friendly choices of kimono fabric on the market today. Rayon has a soft texture and excellent breathability, making it no less popular among Japanese traditional garment aficionados who wish to wear a lighter kimono made of natural materials.
Linen is known for its crispness and strength which makes it an ideal choice for casual summer attire such as yukata or casual linen kimonos worn over tank tops and shorts or jeans during summer festivals in Japan as well as abroad. Linens tend to crease easily but can easily be removed by warm steam ironing or treating with press cloths in between washes if needed for longer lasting wear with vivid colors preserved throughout its long lifespan.
Wool
Wool is a common fabric used to make kimono. It is a natural, durable material that has been popularly used for centuries for clothing items, across many cultures. Wool fabric for kimono can come in a variety of textures and colors, and may be blended with other fibers such as silk, linen or cotton.
Wool that is used for kimono comes mainly from animals such as sheep, goats or alpacas. Depending on the high quality of the wool fibers being woven together, this fabric can range from soft and smooth like velvet to ticker fabrics. Wool provides flexibility to the kimono and allows it to move smoothly with body movements when worn. As well typically most wool fabrics are sufficiently warm during cold weathers while managing to breath during warmer temperature which make it an optimal choice of cloth fabric when making a kimono.
Synthetic
Synthetic fibers such as nylon, rayon, and polyester are used to create modern kimono fabrics. These synthetic materials are designed to keep up with changing fashion trends, offer a lower cost than traditional fabric options, and are also often easier to care for and softer than 100% cotton fabrics.
Some of the most common synthetic fabrics used in kimono fabric include:
- Crepe de Chine, a lightweight cotton-like fabric that is strong yet delicate enough for garments such as a kimono. It is often used in special occasion wear because of its unique crinkled texture.
- Duchess silk satin, a low luster smooth fabric closely related to silk but made out of synthetic ingredients. It is often combined with other fibers such as acetate or rayon for extra strength and warmth.
- Microfiber chirimen, a synthetic fiber that has been woven carefully over multiple times, creating a soft velvet-like texture perfect for rich, luxurious kimono robes.
Common Kimono Fabric Patterns
Kimono fabric is often known for its beautiful and intricate patterns that have been perfected over centuries of craftsmanship. There are a variety of common patterns in traditional Japanese kimonos, each with its own unique symbolism or meaning, making it a great way to convey your individual style.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the more common kimono fabric patterns and how you can maintain your kimono to keep it looking its best.
Floral
Floral fabric patterns are a popular choice for kimono. They can feature one type of flower or several, and the sizes of the patterns vary greatly. Some may cover the entirety of the kimono with large floral prints, while others may have subtle, delicate floral patterns woven throughout. Kimono featuring cherry blossoms or plum blossoms are particularly popular during spring.
When shopping for kimono with floral prints, consider the length of the sleeve and waist size; as well as if you’d like darker colors like navy or black accents in addition to traditional bright colors such as light pink and purple to add more dimension to your look. Floral patterned kimonos are favored by maiko (apprentice geisha) and other professional performing arts practitioners due to their beauty and elegance.
Geometric
Geometric fabric patterns are becoming increasingly popular in contemporary kimono designs, particularly among the younger generations. These patterns typically consist of various shapes in black against a white background, and are arranged to form complex, visually interesting geometric designs.
One modern adaptation of this style includes the yukata fabrics with repeating designs of water waves and stripes of colors. These traditional Japanese patterns, such as matsu (pine Tree) and sakura (cherry blossoms), are also commonly seen in kimono fabrics. Geometric fabrics lend themselves well to modern fashion, creating a chic contemporary look that’s perfect for any occasion.
Striped
Striped kimono fabric is a traditional pattern that has been popular for centuries. The broad lines of stripes add depth to a kimono’s design, and are usually placed horizontally on the fabric. The stripes in various types of kimonos vary from very thin, almost invisible lines, to wide bands of color or patterns that wrap around the entire garment.
Another type of striped kimono fabric uses small-scale motifs to make up the pattern for a bolder effect. Variations on this pattern include:
- the use of diagonal stripes
- broken up stripes
- mismatched bands of color.
Check
One of the most popular designs for traditional Japanese kimono fabric is check (or checkered). This is a symmetrical pattern formed by repeating lines or blocks of small squares. The primary color of the fabric determines what type of check it will be. For example, a pink-and-white check pattern is called shima-moyō (island pattern) and a black-and-white design is referred to as “guru guru mawashi” (spinning wheel).
Gingham checks are used for casual summer kimono, usually in subtle light blue color combinations. On the other hand, formal wear such as furisode and tomesode use more elaborate types of checked designs to depict scenes from nature and everyday scenes like mountains and flowers, or houses in villages. These more sophisticated types of checks are usually named after the season in which they are worn. Some popular patterns include Edo komon (Edo small dots) and Tsukidare bishi (moons between clouds).
Umebachi zaiku is also a type of checked design which features designer Umebachi featuring scattered umebachi plum blossoms on colorful backgrounds; while Erimaki zaiku features cats meandering around symmetrical bamboo patterns.
In recent years there has been an increasing trend towards natural dyeing techniques such as yuzen or nui shibori skills producing unique patterns even amongst small batches due to the unevenness created by irregular dyeing methods. Even if you buy two pieces featuring exactly the same height x width in terms of size and material, you can find subtle differences when comparing their actual designs side by side – so time taking your time choosing pieces that appeal to your individual taste!
Washing Kimono Fabric
Washing kimono fabric is an important part of caring for the fabric. Kimono fabric come in many kinds and it’s important to know the proper way to care for each kind. It’s also important to know the most common ways to wash kimono fabric in order to make sure your garment is properly taken care of. Let’s go over the different washing methods for kimono fabric:
Handwashing
Handwashing is the preferred method for washing kimono fabric. Generally, avoid machines or vigorous scrubbing while laundering Japanese kimono fabric; instead, use mild detergents and gentle cleansers with delicate materials, such as dress silk.
It is best to use a clean, mineral free water. If tap water contains minerals that could damage garments, use distilled water instead. Use a small amount of detergent or dish soap and make sure it is completely dissolved before submerging the fabric in water. Soybean or non-detergent soap is recommended for cleaning delicate fabrics such as dress silk and cotton materials.
For very delicate fabrics, treat it with extra care by gently swishing the fabric in cold water and avoiding wringing out excess liquid. If a stain persists, lightly dab the area with a dampened cloth soaked in lukewarm soapy water but do not rub or scrub too much, to protect the fibers of the material from damage. Rinse twice and lay flat on a clean towel to air dry naturally away from direct sunlight and moisture sources.
Machine Washing
Machine washing is generally not recommended for the delicate fabric of kimono. Thinner fabrics such as silk and soft chirimen are prone to damage when machine washed. Even with a gentle cycle and cold water settings, the agitation used in regular washing cycles can cause irreparable damage to this delicate fabric. Additionally, some come dyes may even bleed or fade when washed in a more aggressive manner.
To clean your kimono safely and without damaging the fabric, you will need to hand wash using gentle detergents and cool water temperatures. Hand washing takes more time, but since the fabrics of some kimonos can be too fragile to be cleaned using regular laundering methods, it is well worth it for ensuring preservation of your garment. Thankfully there are eco-friendly laundry detergents made specifically for delicate garments like kimono that are perfect for this process!
Drying
After laundering a kimono and its accessories, it is important to dry them correctly. Since silk is a delicate fabric, it should never be put in the dryer. Instead, the kimono should be laid out on a flat surface, such as a folding table or clean floor surface. A sheet of plastic can also be placed underneath the item to help protect against water damage on surfaces.
When drying silk kimono fabric:
- Allow items to air dry completely in a cool dry location with good ventilation
- Avoid direct sunlight as this may cause fading
- Use weighted items such as books or heavy stones to hold pieces flat while they dry
- Do not iron until thoroughly dried (or else risk damaging the fabric)
- Rotate clothes occasionally so that sections suspectible to mildew are able to air out
Conclusion
In conclusion, Japanese kimonos fabrics offer unique beauty, a rich history and individual expression, making them the perfect choice for any special occasion. From silk hanten jackets to yukata and yuzen chiyogami print fabric patterns, these gorgeous garments are undoubtedly timeless.
Kimono fabric is often seen as a representation of Japanese culture and artistry, having been loved and passed down by generations. With intricate details and bright colors thoughtfully combined to create beautiful designs that represent Japan’s traditional culture and art form, these exquisite fabrics can be enjoyed for their aesthetic appeal as well as their cultural history.
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