Step into the colorful world of the Japanese kimono and learn how this Asian clothing evolved through the years and became today as one of world's most ornate traditional clothing.

1. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7706186

2. What started out as a Japanese Kimono?
• In the olden days, the Japanese
term, kimono, literally translates to
'something to wear' and encompass
the different types of clothing that
were normally worn by the Japanese,
but now, it has come to refer to the
traditional Japanese clothing.

3. Jomon Period Kimono
With the hunting and
gathering lifestyle of the
Japanese during the
era, the traditional
Japanese clothing was
said to have been made
of fur and was draped
loosely around the body.
Image Source: http://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/others/press/p091014.html

4. Yayoi Period Kimono
• With the introduction of rice agriculture, the Japanese kimono was said to be a loose garment with
holes to put the arms through and which enabled their wearer to be comfortable while working on
the rice fields. The geta, or wooden sandals, which are traditionally paired today with the casual
Japanese Yukata, was said to be developed.
Image Source: http://www.iuk.ac.jp/korean/Japanology/japanology.html

5. Kofun Period Kimono
• The first silk kimono was made during this time and the kimono style was inspired by
the Chinese and Korean robes, which were closed to the front and tied at the waist
without buttons and had skirts or trousers, which were often completed with a
brightly-colored robe.
Image Source: http://www.alcdsb.on.ca/~mart/junior/2006gr5/japancassy06.htm

6. Asuka Period Kimono
• With the development of the sewing methods, the Kofun-period jacket or
kimono robe was made longer and with wider sleeves.
Image Source: http://web.mit.edu/jpnet/kimono/history-asuka.html

7. Nara Period Kimono
• The early Nara Period Yoro
Code required that all kimono
robes be crossed left over
right, like the Chinese, which
became the convention of
how the Japanese kimono
robe is wrapped until today.
• The process of dyeing the
kimono was also developed
during this period and the
basic kimono was mostly
made of one color.

8. Heian Period Kimono
• The Japanese wore their kimono in layers and the further development of
kimono-dyeing procedures also paved the way for colorful, seemingly
artistically-worked kimonos and wearing season-specific kimono colors was
considered a norm.
Image Source:
http://www.international.ucla.edu/asia-
archive/lessons/clockwood/EastAsia.html
Image Source: h
ttp://kodabar.blogspot.com/2012/02/chinese-
tuesday-history-of-kimonohanfu.html

9. Edo Period Kimono
Resist-dyeing, or Yuzen dyeing, developed during this period, thus the kimono had
more colorful and artistic textiles and became single-layered once more. The sleeves
of the kimono were made longer, especially among unmarried women, the obi sash
was made wider, and several techniques of tying the latter came into fashion. The
kimono also became an indicator of social status and the use of subdued colored-
kimonos also became common.
Image Source: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/k/kimono-edo-period-1615-1868/

10. Meiji Period Kimono
• Some members of the elite, especially the men, started to wear Western-style
clothing, like business suits for work, and wear the kimono only at home.
Image: http://www.kimonoboy.com/short_history.htmlImage: http://steamfashion.livejournal.com/1062296.html

11. • Learn more about the history of Japanese
kimonos, the occasions for wearing the
kimono, and the basic types of Japanese
kimono and kimono robes on
AsianIdeas.com.