Did you know that 90% of kimonos collected from estate clear-outs or family home organization are discarded even when they are in good condition? The kimonos used in this project are personally picked up by the designer from the warehouses of estate clearing companies.
With very few people wearing kimonos nowadays, daily wear kimonos such as komon, iromuji, tsumugi, kasuri, and nagajuban are destined to be discarded, even if they are in good condition.
However, it is precisely these everyday kimonos that have a charm that fits into our "daily" lives today.
Kimonos were originally made from very expensive fabrics.
Surely, when they were purchased, they were tailored with various thoughts and feelings.
Currently, many children lament that even if they sell their precious kimonos, they fetch next to nothing.
We don't want to just leave such kimonos to rot in a chest of drawers, nor do we want to discard them. Instead, we want to upcycle them by remaking them into forms that can be used in modern life, thereby re-spinning their history.
After old kimonos are dismantled, they are carefully hand-washed to remove dirt and prevent fabric shrinkage.
Afterward, they are further treated to enhance their wash resistance, and then each piece is hand-sewn onto a T-shirt.
Transforming old items to fit into modern life.
In Japan, where ingenuity thrives for enjoying quality items for a long time, KOMADO's upcycling is born from the designer's passionate commitment.