Even if the kimono originally came from China, they are nowadays more commonly associated with Japan, and the most beautiful kimonos were designed in 17th and 18th century Japan.
The cloth and color combinations often indicated the social or political status of the wearer and kimono colors varied according to the season. These days, the kimono is no longer purely a traditional robe.
Traditionally, all girls in Japan learned to master the art of sewing and clothes making. But sewing was easier than in the west. The kimono, haori and girdle, and even the long-hanging sleeves, had only parallel seams. The garments were, in fact, taken apart for washing, and each piece, after being mildly stiffened, was stretched out on a board to dry, before being sewn back together again.
There are many kinds of kimono pattern: the long-sleeved, beautiful types worn by geisha or young girls, the formal kimono stamped with the wearer’s emblem and worn on ceremonial occasions; kimono for men and kimono for children. A young woman 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 gets older, the kimono designs become smaller and the colors richer and deeper while the obi is worn lower and made narrower. In addition, haori, a short knee-length kimono, is frequently worn. These days, a kimono is usually only worn for special occasions and is primarily worn by women, but certain men do still wear this garment. Both haori and kimono can be hung on a hard wood frame as wall decoration.
As an indulgence or ideal gift, kimono clothing is versatile, 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 more casual.
