The ladies kimono has made its way around the world and back. What started as very traditional and cultural attire has evolved to make fashionable impressions in cultures world wide. Even today, the life of the garment is still evolving.
The term kimono actually came into use to describe a normally T-shaped garment that had the potential of many different names and functions, now lumped together. The T-shaped pattern is made out of seven panels cut from one bolt of cloth.
The word kimono means literally "thing to wear" in English. Because it has encompassed a vast array of clothing types that were once categorized separately, and because of the large variation of actual garment styles of kimonos, pinning down a solid history for the japanese kimono is not an easy task.
As with modern kimono fashion, the kimono dress that would be seen as 'acceptable' by culture changed its look based on many different aspects, from social status to functionality. Not only did the Japanese culture impact the definition of the kimono, but the Western culture did, as well.
At home, individuals would change, thus mentally and physically putting the day behind them and relaxing in the privacy of their abode in the comfort of a silk kimono. This shift fed the notion of the kimono being traditional Japanese wear because people would only don them in the comfort of their own home.
The bold and brilliant patterns of the kimono were easier to produce, and tailors became more confident with their designs. The kimono became commonly adorned with large, dramatic visual statements that beautifully reflected nature and the modern culture. The technological advancements also allowed for the boost in production speeds, as power-operated looms and spinning machines caused the kimono to be more easily created.
