History
of kimono
Thousands of years
ago, most Japanese people wore "kantoui" -- like one-piece dresses --
made of coarse cloth or leather. However, during the Asuka and Nara eras of
Japanese history (6th & 7th centuries), people began to wear kimono almost identical
to those worn in China and Korea, which were passed on through trading (picture
1).
During the Heian era (7th-11th centuries), kimono developed considerably in
terms of style and shape. This is especially true of the style of kimono called
"juuuni hitoe" (picture 2), which were worn by female members of the
Japanese nobility and consisted of 12 layers of silk. Female aristocrats took
pride in the expense of these garments, and took pleasure in the art of
color-coordination. In contrast, common people wore cotton or hemp kimonos.
Following the Heian era, Japan was controlled by samurai. It was an age of
conflict and violence. For these reasons, kimono became more simple. Women wore
kimono called "kosode", which were easy to move in compared to the
previous heavy, cumbersome garments. These "kosode" were the original
form of the present-day kimono.
During the Edo era (16th-18th centuries), kimono culture continued to progress.
A wide range of different kimono styles was developed; many of the ideas and
designs first used during this period are those that are still seen today. For
the first time, the general public were able to wear kimono as fashionable
garments, and not simply as utilitarian outerwear. Being a peaceful era, people
could afford to enjoy kimono culture.
During the Meiji and Taisho eras (18th-19th centuries), fashions were beginning
to change. People began wearing western-style clothes. Although many people
continued to wear kimono, some wanted less constrictive garments. Female
students wore "hakama" -- like long wide pants -- in order to ride
bicycles, and people were encouraged to wear western clothes as part of the
modernization of Japan.
Today, people wear kimono only on special occasions, such as wedding
ceremonies, and parties to celebrate reaching the age of majority. Girls can
sometimes be seen wearing hakama when graduating from school or university.
