- A baby’s beautiful, ro silk kimono, with blue and white bands and waves, boats, pines and other traditional Japanese motifs. This would be extremely sweet on a baby but also makes a great display item and, being baby sized, requires much less space than most.
- Ro silk, which is silk woven with a banded, airy weave, to allow air to circulate. Unlined (hitoe), for summer wear.
- Made and bought in Japan
- The kimono is fastened with the attached front ties. The right side front of a kimono is always the underneath front, the left front is always the one on top, on both males and females. You thread the tie on the inner (right hand) front edge out through the armhole, across the back and round to the front, then take the other tie (on left front round across the back and to the front and tie them together (you can just tie them at the back if wished). A sof, wide obi/sash is usually worn on top, such as a soft heko obi, though, with the ties, it not essential for keeping it closed
- As a display item it could be put on a stand or little mannequin but also looks very good on a length of cane or thin bamboo, threaded through the sleeves, sleeve end to sleeve end length. Tie a string at the centre to form a loop and hang it from that. It can be hung that way with the kimono closed and front or back on display or with the back on display and the fronts pulled out and fastened to the sleeves to keep them out, with clips or loosely stitched.
- Japanese children traditionally wear them with big tucks loosely stitched into the outside of the shoulders and round the waist. The tucks, if still in the garments, are very loosely stitched and can be easily removed to enlarge the garments.
- Kimono Fronts: Kimonos are worn with left front on top of right, by both men and women. The Japanese use the phrase phrase, ‘left over rice’, to remember this
- 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
To see an example of a child wearing a pretty kimono, tied with a heko obi, click here (Note* not the kimono in this listing)
Please be aware that different monitors display colour slightly differently. Therefore the colour in the photos and description is a guide only
Condition:
Excellent
Measurements approx:
Sleeve end to sleeve end 86cm
Sleeve seam to sleeve seam 34cm
Length 77cm
Although this may seem large for a baby, Japanesse children’s kimonos are always worn with a tuck on the outside of each shoulder and a big tuck round the waist, loosely stitched in place. These tucks are put in to adjust it to the correct size. Although Japanese children do not wear kimonos without these tucks in them, they can be worn without them and therefore fit a larger size
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.
Baby's Silk Hitoe Kimono
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.