- An antique, boy’s Shichi Go San Ensemble kimono, with pine branch design. A collector’s item. It has a large, loosely stitched tuck at the waist and a small one on each shoulder, which is how they are always traditionally worn by children
- This is an antique kimono, lovely as a display item
- Entirely hand sewn, as authentic, vintage kimonos are
- An Omiya-mairi kimono, for a child's first visit to a Shinto shrine
- This will originally have been an expensive kimono. Kids being kids, many vintage ones tend to be somewhat stained, this is in excellent condition
- Beautiful to wear and makes a fabulous gift
- Made and bought in Japan
- This kimono is the perfect size to be used as a display item. It would look great hung on the wall with a bamboo rod through the sleeves or in a large, simple frame
- The kimono is fastened with the attached white front ties. You thread the tie on the inner front edge out through the armhole and round to the back, then take the one on the outer front edge round to the back and tie them. An obi/sash is usually worn on top, such as a soft heko obi
- The Japanese adjust the size of children’s kimono and hifu, so it sort of grows as the child grows. They adjust the width by making a big tuck on the outside of each shoulder and stitching it loosely, by hand, and just folding it down flat. They make the tucks smaller, bit by bit over time, as the child grows, until eventually it fits with no tucks.
- They adjust the length by making a big tuck all around the waist, again on the outside and loosely hand stitched and just folded down flat, then reducing the size of that tuck as the child grows (even adult kimonos are length adusted by making a big tuck round the waist and tying that in position before putting on the obi)
- One kimono often fits the same child for 3 years this way
- The Japanese take great pains to store their traditional garments with the utmost care, which is why they stay in such exceptional condition. Some of my Japanese garments have large, white stitching (shitsuke) round the edges. The Japanese put these stitches in to keep the edges flat during long periods of storage, these stitches just get pulled out before wearing the garment
- Please be aware that different monitors display colour slightly differently. Therefore the colour in the photos and description is a guide only
Condition:
Excellent condition for a boy’s antique kimono, some light marks. A collectors' piece – see photos
Measurements:
Sleeve end to sleeve end 88cm with additional width in the 1.5 / 3cm shoulder tucks
Sleeve seam to sleeve seam 43.5cm
Sleeve depth 45cm
Length 80cm with a tuck of an additional 17 / 34cm
Japanese clothing is usually of adjustable fit, being mostly wrap-over or tie-to-fit items, so most garments fit a range of sizes. Because of this (and only really knowing my own size anyway) I can't really advise anyone on the fit. Please judge fit from the measurements given.Measure from centre back of neck, along shoulder and down the arm to the wrist, then double that and compare it with the sleeve end measurement to judge sleeve length.
Antique Boy's Kimono - Collector's
Kimono require a sash to hold them closed. This is always bought separately. For casual wear they tend to use soft heko obi.
Japanese children traditionally wear them with big tucks loosely stitched into the outside of the shoulders and round the waist.
Sizing: Japanese clothing is usually of adjustable fit, being mostly wrap-over or tie-to-fit items, so most garments fit a range of sizes.
Storage: Hang up your garment for a few hours prior to wearing, to remove fold creases. They should also be hung out to air 4 times per year, if not worn frequently. Hang your garment to air for a day or so immediately after purchase too, as it will have been stored for a while. The Japanese take great pains to store their traditional garments with the utmost care, which is why they stay in such exceptional condition. Some of my Japanese garments have white stitching (shitsuke) round the outside edges. The Japanese put these stitches in to keep the edges flat during long periods of storage, these stitches just get pulled out before wearing the garment.
Cedarwood or lavender essential oil keeps moths away, but don't get it on the fabric, apply near it, on the box, wrapper, drawer etc. or on a tissue nearby.
Cleaning: Be very cautious about washing kimonos. All cleaning is done entirely at your own risk, as is standard with all vintage garments and items. I would advise only dry cleaning for silk ones and for most synthetic ones, cotton ones may be dry cleanable too but select your dry cleaner carefully and take their advice before deciding if you want to try dry cleaning it. Some synthetic textile or cotton kimonos can be gently hand washed but the dyes can run even in some of those, so consider that before washing but, if you decide to wash, only cool hand wash very gently, do not rub, just gently squeeze the water through it a few times, do not wring, Use a detergent made for colours, not one for whites, as they contain bleaching agents. Do not machine wash, it can rip off the sleeves, but if you hand wash you can briefly machine spin it to remove excess water before hanging it to dry but do it on its own, separately from other items. All forms of cleaning are done at own risk. In Japan many kimonos, especially silk ones and any ceremonial ones, are cleaned by specialists in kimono cleaning, often by a special method called araihari, where they take it completely apart, clean the pieces, then sew it back together again.
Uses: Kimono and haori can, of course, be worn but also make wonderful display items. If short of space for displaying one, consider a child’s kimono or a haori which are just as striking and beautiful as an adult kimono but require less space.
Colour: Please be aware that different monitors display colour slightly differently. Therefore the colour in the photos and description is a guide only.
Additional Information
One must bear in mind that most are vintage items, which I strive to describe accurately and honestly. Most are in excellent vintage condition and therefore look virtually new but all are vintage, even the unused garments, which are or deadstock. A very, very few smell of mothballs or a touch of vintage mustiness but that is rare. This can be aired out and can sometimes be speeded up by tumble drying the dry garment at cool, but it should be put in a pillowcase in the dryer and is done only at your own risk. I have also had success at removing it by turning garments inside out and spraying very lightly with Oust, then letting them hang for a couple of days, but you do this at your own risk, as I can’t guarantee it won’t damage some fabrics. I found Oust to be much better at it than Febreze, even though Febreze is intended for some fabrics and Oust is an air freshener. Some synthetic textile and cotton kimonos can be hand washed but do this entirely at your own risk and only use a detergent for colours, as all other detergents contain bleaching agents to brighten whites. I usually mention any mothball or musty smell, if one does have it, but one must bear it in mind it is a possibility, even if not stated in the description, whenever buying vintage and antique textiles.