An insight to global culture

Japanese clothing

Japanese clothing and traditional japanese clothes much like U.S. clothing is worn to compliment the seasons. The traditional forms of Japanese clothing in general is called wafuku. Japanese clothing and japanese clothes are worn also based off a persons age or by the event. 

Japanese Clothes and Events

• Customarily, woven patterns, dyed clothing and repetitive patterns are considered informal japanese clothing. Examples of traditional informal japanese clothing are; cotton yukata, woven cotton haori and dyed ikat kimono. These types of japanese clothes would be used as daily wear, for bath houses or for informal friend and family visits. 

• Formal japanese clothing normally takes on either of two characteristics; very elaborate designs or a simple elegant designs. A few examples of elaborate designed japanese clothes worn for an event are uchikake wedding kimono and festive happi coats. The more elegant designs, subdued colors or solid pattern formal japanese clothes would be worn for paying formal visits, funerals or by married women for weddings or formal functions.    

Japanese Clothes and Age

• For women in particular, traditional japanese clothing like the kimono is not only worn based on the persons age but also by their marital status. Young unmarried women wear kimono with long sleeves that are very vibrant, colorful and rich with patterns. Married women or older women would wear simpler more subdued clothes.

•  

Traditional Japanese Clothing Types

• The traditional forms of japanese clothing or japanese clothes in general is called wafuku. Traditional japanese clothing can be broken down into the following clothing categories.  

• Kimono - meaning clothing or things to wear is the basic japanese clothing

• Yukata - the summer kimono • Nagajugan - undergarments

Cont…

• Clothing Accessories - obi, shoes, socks, etc. • Haori - short silk jackets • Michiyuki - Overcoats • Hakama - japanese pants • Uchikake - most formal kimono • Shiro-maku - wedding kimono •  

•

Kimono Fabric, Kimono Pattern & How to Make a Kimono

• Kimono Fabric HistoryTextiles are perhaps the greatest treasure in Japan's remarkable century old tradition of handicrafts. The Japanese techniques of weaving and dyeing was originally borrowed from Korea and China. In the eighth century, tribute between Japan and her neighboring countries, Korea and China was presented in bolts of silk and brocade. Over the centuries, the Japanese treasured and studied those textile offerings and began producing their own. The japanese have developed it to a level rarely seen elsewhere. The unmatched skills and refined aesthetic have combined to produce some of Japan's finest treasures.

Kimono 

• The word kimono simply means things to wear and is pronounced kee-mo-no. The plural of kimono is simply kimono. The kimono has had a long history in Japan and the kimono has changed over time to reflect the society and culture of that period. 

• Today, a Japanese woman usually owns only one kimono typically a furosode kimono which is worn for the coming of age ceremony on her 19th birthday. For weddings, the complete bridal kimono and kimono apparel is usually rented. Kimono are also very rarely worn as every day clothing anymore. Occasionally, if you go to a small rural town in Japan or one of small islands like Okinawa, you will see the traditional every day kimono worn by elders. To learn about the kimono history click the next button. 

How to Make a Kimono

• As the traditional textiles of Japan were made primarily for personal attire, what we know today as the kimono determined not only the construction of the weaves and the patterning of the fabric but also the width of the cloth itself. A single bolt, or "tan", of cloth measures approximately 9 meters in length and 30 centimeters in width. This is sufficient to make one kimono, whether for men or for women regardless of height and weight. Thus kimono fabrics as a rule are sold by the bolt and rarely

by the meter.

Kimono Pattern

• The kimono pattern consists of four main strips of fabric. Two patterns form the panels covering the body and two panels for the sleeves. Additional smaller strips form the narrow front panel and collar.

• Customarily, woven patterns and dyed repeat patterns are considered informal. Formal kimono have free-style designs dyed over the whole surface or along the hem. Originally, the kimono were worn in multiple layers of different colors. Up to a dozen or more colorful layers of contrasting colored kimono would be worn. Today, the kimono is normally worn with a single layer on top of a slip style undergarment. 

•  

The Kimono Pattern Parts

rear

• Sodetsuke - kimono armholeMiyatsukuchi - opening under the sleeveFuri - sleeve below the armholeUshiromigoro - back main sectionFuki - hem gaurdYuki - sleeve length

front

• Sode-guchi - sleeve openingSode - sleeveTamoto - sleeve pouchEri - collarDoura - upper liningOkumi - front inside panelMaemigoro - front main panelSusomawashi - lower liningTomoeri - over collarUraeri - inner collar 

The Changing of the Kimono Fabric

• The formal kimono and obi belts were traditionally made of silk, silk brocade, silk crepes such as cherimen and satin weaves such as rinzu. Due to production costs, limited availability of skilled weavers and craftsman and the consumers economic and "easy care" demand, the kimono industry is striving to capture the demands by producing kimono of "easy care" casual type fabric. Today, most formal kimono are made of rayon, cotton sateen, cotton, polyester and other synthetic fibers except for the traditional wedding kimono.