KIMONO'S ARE WEARABLE ART

DID YOU KNOW THAT EVERY KIMONO IS TRULY WEARABLE ART. THE THOUGHT AND PROCESS IN MAKING THEM ARE UNBELIEVABLE.  "The patterns that adorn kimono are very significant, for it is through choice of colour and, most importantly, decorative motifs that the wearer's gender, age, status, wealth, and taste are articulated." QUOTE FROM V&A MUSEUM LONDON

 THE NIPPON CLUB IN NEW YORK RECENTLY HAD AN EXHIBITION OF A PRIVATE KIMONO COLLECTION.  I WAS ABLE TO GET PERMISSION TO PHOTOGRAPH SOME OF THE PIECES.  WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS CLOSE- UP / DETAILS OF THE INTRICATE WORK THAT GOES INTO EACH PIECE.  AT THE HIGHT OF THE GEISHA'S (JUST BEFORE WWII) THE COST OF  KIMONOS WERE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS!  BRIDES TO DAY LIKE TO WEAR WEDDING KIMONO'S CALL UCHI KAKIES... MANY RENT THEM FOR THE DAY AS THE PRICE FOR A NEW ONE IS PROHIBITED

CRANES ARE SYMBOLIC FOR LONGEVITY AND GOOD LUCK, NOTICE THE BEAUTIFUL PATTERN ON THE UPPER WINGS AND THE HAND EMBROIDERY THROUGH OUT

ANOTHER CRANE TRUPUNTO STITCHED WITH GOLD THREAD

PINE NEEDLES( THE PINE TREE REPRESENTS LONGEVITY, GOOD FORTUNE AND IMMORTALITY) AND BABY CRANES

A WONDERFUL TURTLE (LONGEVITY)

ANOTHER VIEW OF THE TURTLE, NOTICE HOW EVEN THE EYE POPS

THE MAJECTIC PINE TREE

CLOSEUP WITH BIRD IN FLIGHT ( A SWALLOW SYMBOLIZES GOOD LUCK, FIDELITY IN MARRIAGE AND FERTILITY), THE TECHNIQUE USE IN THIS KIMONO WAS RESIST PAINTING ON SILK 

CLOSE UP OF ANOTHER SWALLOW 

THE GEOMETRIC PATTERN SYMBOLIZING WAVES IN THE SEA

PATTERNS OF A LEAF

MORE OCEAN WAVES AND CORAL

RESIST ON SILK WITH PATTERN ALMOST LOOKS LIKE  OUR AMERICAN INDIAN PATTERNS OF THE SOUTH WEST

THE JAPANESE ARE VERY SEASONAL IN THEIR PATTERNS

THE BEAUTY OF RESIST PRINTING AND HAND EMBROIDERY WISTERIA SYMBOLIZING EARLY SUMMER ( WITH THE MAPLE LEAF AUTUMN) 

 ADDITION COLOR OF RESIST AND EMBROIDERY SHOWING TWO SEASONS HAND IN HAND

THE SHADOW WORK LOOKS LIKE A WATER COLOR ON SILK WITH TINY FRENCH KNOTS TO POP AND EMPHASIZE THE STAMENS OF THE FLOWER

ADDITION OF A SATIN STICH TO EXPLORE SHADES OF TONE ON TONE

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE RICHNESS OF INCORPORATING A WATER COLOR LIKE PAINTING AND EMBROIDERY

"Perhaps the most popular colour for kimono is red, derived from safflower (benibana). Red connotes youthful glamour and allure, and is thus suitable for the garments of young women. It is also a symbol of passionate but, as beni-red easily fades, transient love." V & A MUSEUM, LONDON

MORE LEAVES FROM THE SAME KIMONO.  NOW SHOWING WITH CHRYSANTHEMUMS  SYMBOL OF AUTUMN AND KNOW FOR ITS HEALING POWERS  

PINES TREES OR NANDINA BUSH SYMBOLIZING WINTER

THE DARK COLORS ARE ALSO A TELL TALE SIGN OF A WINTER GARMENT
"The plum is particularly favoured for winter kimono, for its use suggests that spring cannot be far away." V & A MUSEUM

PINE NEEDLES" Colours also have strong poetic significance. Purple, for example, is a metaphor for undying love, the imagery deriving from the fact that gromwell (murasaki), the plant used to create the dye, has very long roots." V & A MUSEUM, LONDON

A FLYING CRANE

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS BRIFE JOURNEY INTO THE MAGIC OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN....