Although the kimono originated in China, they are nowadays more commonly associated with Japan, and the most beautiful kimonos were designed in 17th and 18th century Japan.

Traditionally, the cloth and color combinations indicated the wearer’s social or political standing and the kimono’s color changed with the time of year. The kimono is no longer a purely traditional robe.

Traditionally, all Japanese girls learned to master the art of sewing and clothes making. But sewing was less difficult than in the west. The girdle, haori and kimono, and even the long hanging sleeves, had only parallel seams. The clothes were, actually, taken apart for cleaning, and each piece, after being mildly stiffened, was stretched out on a board for drying, before being sewn back together.

There are many different kinds of silk kimono: the long-sleeved, beautiful kinds worn by geisha or young girls, the formal kimono stamped with the wearer’s family crest and worn on formal occasions; kimono for men and children’s kimonos. A young girl wears a kimono with long sleeves and an Obi, a broad brocade or silk sash about twelve feet long and 12 inches wide. As the girl grows older, the kimono designs become smaller and the colors deeper and richer while the obi is made narrower and worn deeper. Also, haori, a short knee length kimono, is often worn too. Nowadays, a kimono is usually only worn for special occasions and is primarily worn by women, but some men still wear this garb. Both kimono and haori can be hung from a hard wood hanging bar as wall art.

As an ideal gift or indulgence, kimono clothing is versatile, and makes a welcome addition to any wardrobe.

Possibly the most popular color for a kimono is red, derived from safflower. The yukata has much in common with the kimono, only it is made of light-weight cotton and is less formal.

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