Kimono Remake 101: a primer to combining tradition, creativity, and sustainability Emilia Bergoglio
Since I moved to Japan I’ve been fascinated by its rich cultural history. As a sewist, of course I was deeply interested in the kimono. The national dress of Japan is an unmistakable symbol of this nation, as well as being a technically interesting garment. Its shape has been mostly unchanged for centuries, whereas the patterns, either woven or painted on the fabric have changed dramatically depending on vogue and available resources. Any person who’s exploring Tokyo and interested in thrifting (or not!) cannot escape the seemingly endless number of secondhand kimono for sale, often for very little money. Sometimes these kimono are true antique treasures in wearable condition, but more often than not they are actually unwearable due to stains, mold, or moth holes. Having started sewing for ethical reasons, I was saddened by the exorbitant amount of beautiful kimono left unwanted in secondhand markets, forgotten inside tansu (traditional Japanese chest drawer), or shredded to make insulation, so I started accumulating quite a collection. To my great pleasure—not to mention apartment space management—I found out that kimono remake is totally a thing, and it’s an integral part of kimono culture too. From bags to haneri (decorative collar used on the nagajuban, a form of kimono underwear) to even nappies (once the kimono is too old to be used for literally anything else), there is no shortage of uses for—and ideas on how to use—vintage kimono. Today, I’d like to give you a primer on kimono remake, including where to source the kimono, how to prepare it, and some ideas for projects. My recommended places to source secondhand kimono:
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