Sustainability and Kimono

Dear friends,

You may know that the kimono is a Japanese traditional attire as well as the national dress of Japan. I really think the kimono is the ultimate sustainable fashion. Before telling you that reason, I would like to share my personal experience with you.

When I was young I didn't like the kimono I felt it was old-fashioned, and it took a great deal of time and effort to clean and maintain this garment compared to a dress that was easily put on the flip of a zipper. One incident completely changed my view of the kimono.

It was about five years ago when I attended my friend's beautiful wedding. I thought I should wear a kimono, however, I realized I did not have a formal kimono, but I realized my mother had given me a formal one many years ago. Soon my memory of going shopping with her for a kimono became clear. She insisted I should have a formal kimono for the future, in spite of the fact, that I had no interest in kimonos at all at that time. Honestly, I wanted her to buy something more current and fashionable.

I called my father in Japan and asked him to ship the formal kimono and obi, that my mother had purchased, and packed away in a kimono chest about twenty-five years ago. When I received it and tried it on it fit perfectly. She had already passed away but she knew that someday I would need a formal kimono. It was an emotional moment.

I would like to explain why I feel the kimono is a sustainable fashion. The interesting thing about the kimono is that even people with slightly different heights and body types can wear the same kimono depending on how they wear it. Many of my existing kimonos came from my mother, aunts, and friends. The traditional kimono was meant to be handed down from grandmother to mother and to daughter. The kimono can be re-dyed and re-sewn and the kimono can be remade into something different such as a kimono coat. The kimono is not cheap, but it is not expensive at all when you think about wearing it for a long time. Lastly, while western garments are made with a three-dimensional structure to fit the body, the kimono is made of straight-cut cloth so there is no waste of cloth.

These days people talk about sustainability; fashion is changing from fast fashion to sustainable and ethical fashion. Brand stores are collecting unwanted items and recycling them into new fibers. I can't help but wonder how much can be recycled.

I feel when you choose a garment you might want to consider what you want and purchase something that will last a long time. Caring for a garment is necessary to keep it for a long time. When I was young, one of the reasons I disliked the kimono was all the care it required, but today I enjoy taking care of a garment and storing it so that it may last a long time and that may be the secret to making garments sustainable. I learned a lot about sustainability from the kimono.

All the best,

Kumiko

My friend's wedding in Canada

Edited by Janice Ensminger

Magnolia and Kimono

Dear Friends,

I really hope you're all looking after yourselves and loved ones during this challenging situation. Let all of us believe that we will overcome these difficult times.

The one good thing we can consider is that spring, and the blossoming of flowers is alive in NYC. Flowers give us peace of mind.  I have become so aware of the many magnolia trees in Manhattan, and the blossoms are facing up to the sky they are gorgeous and full of vitality.

At this time I would like to share a story about a kimono. A couple of years ago my good friend's mother passed away, as a result, my friend gave me her mother's obi, which is a broad sash of a Japanese kimono. This obi has a hand-drawn magnolia blossom and the magnolia has become one of my favorites. Every time I wear this obi, I think of my friend and her mother. This is probably why I have become so fond of magnolias.

Honestly, when I was young I didn't like kimonos at all, but a few years ago I changed my mind after I was invited to a client's wedding. Actually, they became great friends and their ceremony was being held at their beautiful property in the Canadian mountains. It was a very formal wedding. At first, I wondered what I would wear, but I came up with a wonderful idea.

Many years ago my mother made me some beautiful kimonos and one of them was for a formal occasion. Those kimonos had been sleeping for many years in the kimono chest of drawers at my parents' home. I called my father and asked him to ship the formal one to New York. Imagine this kimono had been made for me twenty-five years ago and had never been worn. This kimono still fits me perfectly.  I realized that the kimono is the ultimate sustainable fashion and I finally grew to love them.

I have since acquired more kimonos. The magnolia obi is one of them. Every time I wear them, I am always thinking of the person who used to wear it, such as my mother, my grandmother, my aunt, friends, and my friend’s mother.

I cherish them and I will probably pass them on someday, but it has to be someone special because the kimono has to be happy too.

Currently, many large cities around the world are on lockdown. Ironically, the air seems cleaner and maybe the earth is happier. This may be a good opportunity to think about our lives. We need to physically keep a social distance, but we shouldn't be isolated. Let's take care of our family, friends, ourselves, and things around us. Please stay healthy.

Best,

Kumiko

Edited by Janice Ensminger