9/08/2011

Reflections on Kimono - 着物について


Even though, in Tokyo, the summer heat is still here, August 31 marks the end of 'yukata season', and marks the time to get back into hitoe (single layer kimono). After looking so forward to yukata season, I have to say, it wasn't my favourite. One of the reasons was my lack of wardrobe options. One of my inspirations to begin this project was to explore the eco-fashion side of kimono. Kimono is a perfect example of eco-fashion; they are usually recycled, or passed down, and worn again and again. Yukata (lightweight summer cotton kimono), on the other hand, was impossible to find recycled (in my size), so as I had to buy a new one, I decided to limit my purchase to one. This meant that I wore the same yukata for 2 months, and to be honest, I found it tiresome. At least with kimono, I have 5 to choose from, and feel like I have some variety.

The second reason why yukata season was less exciting in reality, than in my dreams, had to do with the weather. It was soooo hot this summer, that every time I wore my yukata, I felt like I sweat so much, that I had to wash (and press) it for the next time. Does everyone also do this. For some reason, I was afraid to re-press without washing, and yet - I couldn't re-wear the yukata after wearing it all day without re-pressing it. It was a lot of work.

東京ではまだまだ夏の暑さが続く中、831日をもって浴衣の季節は終わり、また一重の着物へと衣替え。浴衣の季節をあれだけ楽しみにしていたけど、正直に言うと、大好きとは言えなかった。その理由の一つは、選択肢の少なさにあったと思う。このプロジェクトを始めたきっかけの一つが、エコファッションとしての着物を探求すること。着物はある意味スローファッションのひとつ。多くの場合、着物はリサイクル、または次の世代に受け継がれ、何度も何度も着用され、それは正にエコファッション。でもリサイクルの浴衣(私のサイズの)を探すのは不可能だったため、新たに購入しなければならず、一着だけ購入することに。結果的に二ヶ月同じ浴衣を着続けるしかなかったので、正直少し飽きてしまった。少なくとも着物の場合は、五着ある中から選べるので、少しはバラエティがある気になる。そして、想像していたほど浴衣を楽しめなかった二つ目の理由が、天気。今年の夏は本当に暑くて、浴衣を着る度にすごく汗をかいて、毎回洗濯(アイロンも)しなければいけない気がしたんです。皆さんもそうですか?なぜか私は洗濯をしないでアイロンをかける気になれず、かといってアイロンをせずに一日着たものをまた着る気にもなれず。とにかく苦労しました。

 So now we are back to hitoe season (the month of June and the month of September) and then, I'm quite excited, back to full kimono season in October.

そしてやっとまた一重の季節(6月と9月)に戻り、10月からは自分がこんなに待ち遠しく感じるとは思っていなかった着物の季節です。

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2 comments:

  1. The opposite of me, I prefer yukata to kimono, and started to wear kimono only as a substitute for yukata in the non-summer months.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Someone really should have helped you find a ramie-cotton blend kimono you can throw in the washing machine and let drip-dry; no need to iron and relatively indestructable.

    ReplyDelete

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