Research for Kimono redesign

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Project Kimono
An effort to redesign the kimono and make it easy to wear

By Laura Nisbet

Previously: Kimono redesign project

I also attended the Serizawa workshop. It was taught by Mr. and Mrs. Dote, who are two of the few people who know and are still practicing Serizawa technique of Japanese printing. This was a great experience for me, as well as helpful for my project because I got to learn first hand a bit about the Japanese culture from working with Mr. and Mrs. Dote. I also learned a new technique which I am hoping to incorporate into my project.

The past few weeks, I have been continuing to research for my project. I have been looking at traditional Japanese ways of dyeing and folding fabric and trying to think of ways to incorporate these techniques into my garments. I have been looking at the art of tie dyeing, which in Japan is called Shibori (different from shibari). The method I used for my first attempt is called Arashi. It involves tying the fabric in little pleats around a cylindrical pole and painting the dye on to the fabric.

I baked my fabric in the oven to set, but traditionally it is steamed, which gives the lines not died in the fabric a black appearance. I am intending to attempt this and also the other tie-dying techniques such as pleating, meander and mandala.

I have also been continuing to do fabric research and have found some lovely Japanese fabrics that have been sent to me from both London and America. As well, I have been fabric sourcing nearer to home and have begun to collect variety of fabrics, cottons, silks, linens, etc. that may be suitable for my collection. I probably will not decide what fabrics I will definitely use until nearer January.

After going through my sketch book and writing down and drawing little ideas of what the images say to me, I have begun to look at the shape of the kimono and work on how it will be possible to bring the shape in through use of tailoring, pleating and folding.

I have started doing this by doing basic block shapes and changing them slightly each time, until I have exhausted all possibilities.

Once I had done this I have been taking the ideas that I have jotted down in my sketchbook and have been applying them to the basic shapes. The idea behind this being that once I have done this for front, back, sleeves and looked at trims and details I will be able to add my ideas together and create more interesting fashion drawings and ideas for my garments, covering all aspects and exhausting all possibilities.

Project Kimono redesign Chirimen Virginia Fitzgerald Dress Project

What do you think?