Kimono Fabric

What is kimono fabric?

Kimono fabric is either natural silk, cotton, linen, wool-or, nowadays, or synthetic fabrics.

Classification of Japanese kimono by kimono fabric

Japanese kimonos are classified according to whether the dyeing process is done before or after the weaving process (saki-zome or atozome). Pre-dyed (saki-zome) Japanese kimonos are referred to as woven kimono. The designs are symmetrical or geometric, such as stripes, checks or the splash pattern known as kasuri.

These kimono fabric designs are customarily broken down into the following types:

• Silk: reeled silk (meisen or habutae), heavy crepe (omeshi), spun silk (tsumugi), silk gauze (sha) and leno weave gauze
• Cotton: splash pattern (kasuri), stripe pattern (shima) and check (or lattice) pattern (koshi).
• Linen (jofu).

Woven kimono fabic is wool or synthetic kimono fabrics. Kimono fabric dyed after weaving the cloth (ato-zome) are referred to as dyed kimono fabric. These free style kimono designs and motifs first became popular during the long Edo period, as innovative developments occurred in dyeing and decorating techniques.

Shapes and sizes of the kimonos

All kimonos are the same shape and are of a standard size that can be worn by anyone, man or woman, regardless of height or weight. This gives the kimonos a versatility not found in typical western dress.