Kimono Remake

Inherited Silk, Reimagined for Modern Wear

Kimono remaking is the process of tailoring fabric from kimonos or rolls of kimono cloth into forms suitable for modern life, such as shirts. Even in kimonos that are rarely worn, there remains a wealth of beautiful fabric painstakingly woven by artisans.

One of a kind, from a single kimono

Kimono patterns are designed with the width of the fabric and how they will appear when tailored in mind. During the remaking process, we carefully consider where to place these patterns before cutting, meaning that no two items are ever exactly the same, even when made from the same fabric. Every kimono remake shirt handled by Japan Satsuma is a unique, one-of-a-kind piece.

The "Omeshi" fabric

One of the fabrics used for our remakes is "Omeshi" (Omeshi-chirimen). It is said that this name originated because the 11th Shogun of the Edo shogunate, Tokugawa Ienari, favored wearing it.

It is a yarn-dyed silk textile where the thread is dyed before weaving. Because it uses highly twisted yarn, it features a fine, textured surface known as "shibo." It is a high-grade fabric that balances moderate firmness with suppleness.

The meaning imbued in patterns

Many kimono patterns are imbued with auspicious meanings. For example, the diamond pattern is considered in Japan to represent wishes for "prosperous descendants" and "good health." Even when tailored into clothing, those wishes are carried forward.

View Kirindo's Kimono Remakes