Recently it has become very fashionable to wear kimono style jackets, they are widely manufactured and sold on the High Street but did you know it is really alternative to wear a real Japanese kimono? Why should you settle for a copy when authentic kimono are beautiful and handmade by experts too! 

Kimono has come to denote a long, T shaped robe with collars and long, widesleeves. They are wrapped around the body and secured with a belt/sash or obi. Traditional kimonos are handmade with fantastic attention to detail, tiny stitches and fabulous styling.

Both men and women wear kimono, men’s tend to have subdued colours and geometric patterns while women’s favour the floral. Many kimonos are made of silk and silk blends, as they are handmade they don’t usually have labels to confirm the fabric type but silk is usually quite rough to the touch.

A yukata is a casual summer kimono usually made of cotton or synthetic fabric, and unlined. It is very lightweight, cool, and comfortable compared to a traditional kimono. You can wear it to a casual party, events in the spring and the summer or indoor events in all seasons. They can also be your lounge wear.

A haori is a kimono shaped jacket. Originally worn by men only; women were allowed to wear them after the Meiji era and women's ones became popular in Taisho era (1912-1926). The haori does not close but is worn open or kept closed by a string that connects the lapels. Haori are versatile garments, as they translate well into western-world outfits too, looking good when worn either dressed up for the evening or dressed down with jeans.

Michiyuki is a style of Japanese jacket/coat, with its signature square neckline and snap or button closures, is worn over the kimono for warmth and protection. Most michiyuki have a “secret pocket” beneath the front panel, accessible by the right hand. Though there are versions for men, most michiyuki are made for women. There is no standard length, and some can be as long as the kimono beneath it, which is more common for the style of michiyuki that is designed as rainwear.

The 21st century has witnessed something of a kimono renaissance. Elegant kimono in beautiful modern fabrics can be seen increasingly on the streets of Japan, while second-hand kimono’ are becoming popular too, often re-styled or combined with other items of dress. The resurgence of interest in kimono is particularly apparent in the summer, when department stores are full of yukata (summer kimono), which are much simpler to wear than formal garments. After the Second World War kimono were often viewed as a product of Japan's feudal past or a symbol of woman's oppression, but today they are just another choice in the wardrobe.

At Repsycho we have been selling authentic Japanese kimono for several years; people buy them to wear as jackets, dresses and as dressing gowns and lounging wear too, they are especially popular during festival season. These are genuine handmade Japanese items which often still have tacking stitches in the clothing denoting that they have not been worn. Our kimono come in various colour and styles, gorgeous designs and often have beautiful linings too! Genuine Japanese Kimono can be hugely expensive, we offer the opportunity to own one at a snip!