I’ve decided to try something I’ve never done before: sewing my own kimono. As someone deeply interested in the history and cultural meaning of kimono, this is more than just a sewing projec; it’s a way to explore the garment from the inside out, one stitch at a time.
I’ll be documenting the process here as I go: from choosing the fabric to figuring out the pattern, cutting, sewing, and (hopefully!) wearing the final result. Along the way, I’ll reflect on what I’m learning; not just technically, but also in terms of material culture and my own relationship with the kimono.
Thankfully, I’m not doing this entirely alone. I’m getting some wonderful guidance from my friend Maria, the creative mind behind Yohgara Kimono, whose insights and experience have already been incredibly helpful.
This post will be updated regularly, so feel free to check back or follow along as the project unfolds 🙂
Sewing Kimono (Part 1): The Fabric
Maria and I went to Mahler.Stoffe in Hamburg just to check out the shop with no specific plans. I think I had been there once before, back when I studied fashion design at ESMOD Berlin in 2008. They’ve always had a solid selection and reasonable prices, and this visit was no exception.
I wasn’t looking for fabric for a kimono that day. But then I saw it: a lightweight cotton that immediately caught my eye. Something about the colour, the way it draped, the subtle texture – it was love at first sight! I didn’t hesitate, and with the help of Maria’s calculations, I bought 4 meters of the 1.45m wide fabric.
And just like that, my kimono sewing journey began.
DR CAROLIN BECKE 