Free Sample
The Complete Handbook of Kimonos
A Practical Reference for Buyers, Sellers, and Stewards of Traditional Japanese Garments
by Alumigogo Books
Chapter 1: Understanding Kimonos
A kimono is not a robe, a dressing gown, or a costume. It is a precisely engineered garment constructed from a single, straight-cut bolt of cloth with almost no wasted material. Understanding this fundamental design principle is the first step to understanding everything else about it, from why it drapes the way it does to why it folds into a flat, compact rectangle for storage. The entire garment, excluding the collar and a few minor pieces, is cut from a continuous length of fabric that is typically 36 to 42 centimeters wide and about 12.5 meters long. This single roll of cloth is cut into eight distinct panels, and these panels are then sewn together with long, straight seams.
The result is a flat, T-shaped silhouette with wide, rectangular sleeves. There are no darts, no curved seams, and no shaping to conform to the human body. This is a deliberate choice. The kimono's shape is meant to be a canvas, with the wearer's body providing the form beneath. The straight lines of the fabric are designed to hang vertically, creating a clean, columnar line from the shoulders to the ankles. The only major curve in the entire garment is the collar, which is a separate, curved piece of fabric that is attached to the body panels. The two large openings under the sleeves, created by the gap between the sleeve panel and the body panel, serve a functional purpose. They are not just decorative; they are