Lucky are you Europeans who can just pop over to Paris to view these beauties in person. The exhibit includes dozens of elaborately designed, embroidered and bold theatrical kimono, as including children’s pieces, accessories, vintage footage on video, an amazing paper kimono, an exquisite robe with a menacing octopus, and a uniquely propped flaming kimono!
Click on the photo above to go to the museum site where you can view a short video (all in French) that shows the collection – worth the time for anyone interested in seeing the more exotic, dramatic life of the kimono!
If anyone goes and would want to barter with me for the catalog, I’m willing to trade!! The exhibit runs until July 15th - see their website for details and directions.
Many, many thanks to Barbara Cattoni, a fiber artist living in France, for sending me this link! See Barbara’s work here: www.stitchingupparis.com
May 18th,2012
and Artisans,
Art,
Exhibits,
Japanese culture,
Japanese Textile Techniques,
Vintage Japanese Kimonos | tags:
barbara cattoni,
kabuki costumes,
kimonos in france,
kimonos in paris,
paper kimono,
theatrical kimono |
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This month we have an amazing lesson in Japanese “fuzzy weave” – also called ikat or kasuri or meisen. The photos are intriguing, the desriptions amazing. Great links, too!
We love to promote the work and spread the wisdom of John Marshall, whose knowledge of kimono is expansive and his generousity with sharing it boundless. Visit his Textile of the Month blog by clicking on either photo above. Go ahead and purchase the fabric sample packet – they’re a great value and are in limited supply!
To browse his website and sign up for his newsletter, click here.
And if you live in or will be visiting Califorinia this summer, put one of John’s shows or events on your itinerary!
We rarely get these unique collectibles but recently fell into a flurry of them! These “sampler bolts” were created by kimono design houses as catalogs for the newest designs of the season.
Mostly discontinued as a practice by the 1970′s, these bolts are getting harder and harder to find. They vary in length depending on the number of panels and the length of each sample, which also varies! Often the panels resemble each other in some way – similar colors, or the same design shown in different color schemes, but we find the most unusual ones are a true jumble of color or design – a real sampler of the season!
You might find underkimono (nagajuban) made from these sampler bolts – these are also quite collectible and an excellent example of recycling and reuse! We don’t have any at the moment but here’s one that’s for sale by Ichiroya (a great kimono seller in Japan). Click on the photo to visit the item page:
This week at Kyoto Kimono – a large collection of vintage wedding kimono – uchikake and kakeshita – on sale! Prices start at $400.
Even if you’re not getting married, these make wonderful heirloom gifts, enchanting decor pieces, or unique additions to your textile collection. The kakeshita are the lighter version of the kimono and can be belted to create an unforgettable prom gown!
Every Friday we add new items to our website listings or offer new sale items. Book mark us to see what’s new each week!
Funny story….. I met Nadir a couple of years ago when he borrowed a kimono from us to use in a photo shoot. He asked if I knew any models and I connected him with Sarah, a lovely woman who stepped forward from the crowd at one of my trunk shows and volunteered to model for my presentation. The result of this serendipity? I feel like I played a small part in what is now an amazing artistic creation – Nadir’s painting. Its been the subject of many accolades and honors and has been entered in the National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. Finalists will be on exhibit in the NPG in the Fall.
Please check out his work on Facebook and “like” the page to keep updated on developments.
This is a great blog article by The Dreamstress, Leimomi Oakes,who is a textile historian and instructor in New Zealand. Aside from having a fascinating personal story, she is a wonderfully creative and talented fashion artist.
In this post she gives a great step-by-step look at deconstructing a vintage kimono. Click on the photo above to visit the blog posting but be sure to click on the links in her first paragraph to see some of her designs using vintage kimono fabrics.
Enjoy!
We had a great time with a great group of women at Frivolous Fibers on Sunday. I love doing trunk shows - presenting a little lecturette on kimono, getting people to try them on, and of course doing a bit of selling as well. It was lovely day with an enthusiastic crowd.
The shop will have kimono and haori jackets for sale even when I’m not there, so if you’re heading for the Chesapeake Bay this summer, be sure to pop in and see the current selection. To visit their website, click here: http://www.frivolousfibers.com/
We added ten new sleeves sets to the website listing this week. For all you crafty artisans and fabric collectors - click on the photo to check ‘em out!
We’re back at the Freer-Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian to help the nation celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Japanese gifting of the Cherry Blossom Trees to The USA.
After you’ve toured the trees (granted, many of the blossoms peaked last week), stop into the Gift Shop of the Sackler Gallery (on Independence, near 14th – next to the Castle!) and brows the kimono. Click here for more info!
April 5th,2012
About Kyoto Kimono,
Art,
Exhibits,
Japanese culture,
Japanese Events,
Kimonos Today,
Kyoto Kimono Venues,
Vintage Japanese Kimonos | tags:
kimono trunk show,
sackler gallery,
smithsonian,
Washington Dc |
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If you find yourself on the Chesapeake Bay the weekend of April 15th, stop by and say hello! Frivolous Fibers is where you’ll be able to find kimonon on sale during the year, but we’ll be there for a trunk show on this day only. We got a little local coverage for it – yeah!
March 30th,2012
About Kyoto Kimono,
Exhibits,
Japanese Textile Techniques,
Kyoto Kimono Venues,
Vintage Japanese Kimonos | tags:
chesapeake bay,
frivolous fibers,
Japanese Kimono,
learn about kimono,
maryland,
trunk show,
vintage kimono |
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