Silk Kimono Robe - The History of The Kimono
Ask someone to describe what a silk kimono robe is and most people would know say that it was a type of dressing gown or garment that has a lot of flowers decorating the fabric. Some may know that it originates from Japan and others may recognize as a type of garment that geisha girls wear.
All of these descriptions would be more or less correct but there is a little more to the Kimono than that.
What Is A Kimono?
The word kimono is translated to mean "a thing to wear". It is actually a traditional gown that used to be worn by men, women and children in Japan. The traditional style means that it is a full length garment. The basic structure is a T shaped design with long sleeves and attachable collars.
The gown is made to fold over itself with the left side always being placed over the right side and is held in place with a wide sash belt which is called an Obi. The only exception to this way of wearing the kimono is when a person is being dressed for burial. The right side of the kimono is then folded over the left side.
These days kimonos are worn mostly by women or they are worn by men when reserved for special occasions such as a wedding or tea ceremonies. You will still see that many people from the older generation wear a kimono on a daily basis but this is not the norm.
How Is A Kimono Made?
The traditional kimono is made by hand. However these days, many are produced using the modern convenience of sewing machines. There is still a lot of intricate work that needs to go into each garment. This detailed work can make a kimono a very expensive investment.
A standard kimono will be made from a bolt of fabric which is called a Tan. The standard measurement of a tan is 14.5 inches wide and 12.5 yards in length. This entire collection of material will be used to make a single kimono. Each kimono is constructed out of four different panels of fabric; two panels are used to make up the body of the gown and two panels are used to make up the sleeves.
The most widely used fabric for this sort of garment used to be 100% pure silk. This was one of the reasons that made a kimono so expensive. Silk is stilled used for the majority of kimonos made today, however some less expensive fabrics have also been used such as rayon, cotton and cotton sateen. These are also a lot easier to look after.
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