A Fascination for Kimonos

A while back, I made my first Japanese kimono. It is a yukata–a traditional summer garment made of cotton or synthetic. It is a more casual form of the more elaborate kimono in silk.

It all started when I was looking for ideas online on how to make a Jedi costume for my son. After an exhaustive and obsessive research, I found a pattern by way of a kimono. One website led to another and it didn't take long before a little seed of need formed in my head: I wanted it for myself. And the more I looked, the more fascinated I became.

My history with the Japanese culture is rather limited, I admit. Japanese presence in the Philippines has existed since the 12th century peaking at the time of the Occupation during World War II. To my knowledge, my mestiza heritage is a mixture of Spanish and Chinese blood combined with my native island roots, which I shall explore on another day. So it was no surprise when the hubby asked a very valid question recently. He wanted to know why I'm interested in the culture when I'm not even Japanese.

Good point.

Then again, why not? Geographically, Japan is close–another island nation–separated only by the Philippine Sea to the north. It was a major trade partner for centuries and Japanese merchants have established settlements in the island as a result. Even with the unfortunate events of the war, the memory of the Bataan Death March died with my grandfather years ago so any bitter feelings I may have had have more to do with his cold, distant bearing than for the hardships he faced as a soldier in the Philippine Army.

Nonetheless, the kimono drew my attention. The style has been copied by designers for years, modified and updated to fit the current trend. It is simple as it is elegant with structure and grace that projects Japan's cultural tradition implicit in its design.

Perhaps that is where I found my emotional connection. I have shed traditions out of ambivalence. I can blame that on my youth. My sense of self has long been assimilated into this culture in order to fit into the mainstream. I have been so "Americanized" that I now face my 40's searching for an answer on who I really am only to come up short. Of course, that too is for another day.

But on the here and now, as I write while wearing my new yukata, this is what I have learned: I love wearing this garment. I love the comfort that it offers as I lounge at home or work on my daily tasks. I love the forgiving lines of its design, delicately accentuating the good parts while hiding the more problematic issues. Though not the least, I love that putting it on–right panel over left, tying the koshi-himo, (under-belt) to wrap the kimono in place, and finishing the garment with the final obi adds a meditative quality to the process.