Kimono

There are a variety of kimono - we delve into a little history lesson for you - so you can see what kind of kimono you would like to purchase!

Juban/nagajuban

 An undergarment worn beneath a kimono by both men and women. Light and comfortable against the skin. Usually made from a light weight wool muslin, silk or cotton. Can be fully lined, part lined or unlined. Same styling as a kimono with square sleeves and wrap front. Usually fastened with a koshihimo sash. As they are shorter than the outer kimono they make great robes for wearing around the house!

Yukata

 The most informal type of kimono usually made of cotton. Worn for casual occasions and also summer festivals. Also sometimes used as a towel after a bath! Usually brightly patterned for ladies or darker with traditional motifs for men. There are unisex ones too with a white cotton background and bold indigo blue designs.

Komon 

An everyday kimono for women with a repeating all over design. Can be almost any material depending on season and budget. Silk, wool, polyester, rayon etc. Fully lined. Pattern is usually woven or printed. 

Tsukesage

A semi formal ladies’ kimono with placement designs at hem, sleeve and one shoulder. Usually silk but more modern ones can be polyester or a silk blend. Can be brightly coloured with bold designs or pastels with delicate floral patterns. The designs can be hand painted onto the fabric before making the kimono or printed. Designs tend not to flow continuously across the seams.

Houmongi

Similar to tsukesage but more formal and the designs are carefully matched to flow across the seams. Houmongi means visiting clothes so can be worn to pay a formal visit.

 Tomesode

Usually made of silk crepe although can be synthetic crepe or silk blend and are nearly always black with the printed or hand painted  designs round the bottom part. Tomesode of a colour other than black are iromuji tomesode and are expensive. Fully lined and usually with 5 mon (family crests) although sometimes there is one or there can be three. Worn by a married lady, the more ornate or the hand painted ones are usually custom made for the mother of a bride.