Ancient Japanese Clothing

After the Heian period, the Kamakura period saw a number of clashes and war clans within Japan. The ancient Japanese clothing soon underwent another change and now clothes became more functional. The number of layers and broad sleeved clothes were shunned for more usable clothing. Soon the imperial land split into a southern and northern court and these people’s lives got influenced by the soft court life. Fights resumed and the gradual decadence is obvious in the elaborate dresses of the period. Women had stopped wearing the Hakama and the robes were lengthened to ankle level. Veils and robes over the head were some strange ways experimented and worn during this time.

Japanese ancient clothing was mainly robes and most of the patterns and designs were religious and auspicious. Dragons were printed with nine yellow dragons and five cloud patterns. These heavily embroidered robes were won by the emperors and were auspicious for the wearer. The Cheongsam was another one piece dress adorned by ancient Chinese women. It had a high neck with a closed collar and short or medium sleeves. Buttoned on sides with a fitted waist, it had slits going up from the sides and complemented their figures.

The Chinese were always a fashionable race and Chinese ancient clothing was largely influenced by all the dynasties which ruled it. The Han Chinese clothing or the Hanfu has the longest history of clothes worn. The Hanfu rules of dressing were followed strictly as a mark of respect for the culture. On the other hand, ancient Japanese clothing kept changing with every dynasty that ruled Japan. Since the Kimono is a national dress, it has always been mistaken for very ancient clothing worn by the Japanese people which is incorrect.

The change of Japanese clothing probably came around after the Second World War. By 1946, a number of fashion magazines began gaining popularity in Japan, like Soen, New style which showed Japanese women how to dress. Not merely a magazine showcasing ready made dresses and attires, these magazines served the purpose of fashion guides. The magazines showed Japanese women how to sew their Kimonos into dresses and their husband’s old coats into suits. These were a complete sewing guide and soon silk Kimonos began transforming into silk dresses at par with New York and Paris designs and Japanese men began adorning suits.

The Kimono with an Obi or the sash around the waist and the Geta were originated in Japan more than a thousand years ago. The material used to fabricate these varied form the most expensive of silks to the cheapest of linens. The kimono was also an heirloom often passed down from mother to daughter sometimes for several generations.

Since the Kimono had one basic pattern, it could fit people with different body types by adjusting the neck and waist line. Modern Japanese clothing brings together the influences of the traditional Kimono with the modern western clothing.