Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Old kimono

On Sunday, Tetsu and I visited his mother, and took her out to lunch. I was wearing the shirt I'd made from my neighbor's old kimono and Obaachan (Tetsu's mother) was very surprised and thought it was from one of her old kimonos but she was pretty sure hers were still in a box in her closet. When we got home we hauled out the box.

Obaachan had given me a couple of her old kimonos a few years ago and I passed them along to a friend who used them in patchwork. The ones she showed us Sunday were her valuable kimonos, hand woven things made of silk, some for formal wear, some for wearing only to funerals etc. Kimonos are expensive and it is a point of pride and maybe snobbishness to wear only the best kimonos and obis (belts) that have been hand painted or embroidered or woven. When I say expensive, I don't mean a couple hundred dollars. We're talking about thousands for just one kimono not to mention the brocade obi, the silk underclothing, the hand woven decorative ties etc. etc. Even on Sunday I could hear the pride in Obaachan's voice as she boasted about how much this or that kimono cost, how Tetsu's father bought it for her when he'd made a lot of money on some business deal. To me it seems somewhat vain to put so much worth into clothing but to Obaachan, it is proof of what high status she once belonged to.
As I oohed and aahed, she casually said,

"Take them. I don't have any used for them anymore. No one will ever wear them. They'll just get thrown away someday. Some recycle shop may sell them for a piddling. You take them and make something you like."

"But Obaachan, that would mean cutting them up. That would ruin them. I might not even be able to make something wearable. I'm not very good at sewing."

"It doesn't matter. They sit in a dark box for thirty years. If you can make something and wear it even once it is better for the kimono. I don't need them anymore."

So Tetsu and I repacked the box and I brought it home. On the way back Tetsu said,

"She didn't give you those kimonos the time before because they were so special to her. I wonder why she's decided they aren't special to her anymore. I guess she figures she really won't be around that many more years and she'd at least like to know that you appreciate them."

A sad thought, but maybe so...

I looked through the box again and admire how beautiful the patterns, the weaving, the tiny stitches are. But knowing that some of these kimonos run thousands of dollars can you see why I'm hesitant to cut into any of them? My scissors freeze before I even sit down at the box. It's true though. Not many people wear kimono anymore and certainly not anyone I know. Some of the hostesses at bars maybe, the girls at weddings. But these rich, dark kimonos of Obaachan's are things she wore after she was married, not something a young girl like Leiya would wear (maybe once!). And besides, to properly dress in a kimono you have to have a "dresser" someone who knows how to tuck and tie etc. One just doesn't throw a kimono on and go out to lunch. Nowadays (for funerals) women will go to a hair dresser who also has a license in kimono dressing. That reminds me, you have to have your hair put up a special way too.

What I'm trying to say is that no one I know will ever wear these kimonos. If I made a dress or a shirt at least they would be out of their box. But they are too valuable for me to start playing around with. So I finger them.

I'll take pictures in the next couple of days and show you a few. In the meantime, I did cut into two yesterday. They had tags on them so I knew they weren't that expensive. Probably store bought. My sewing is so bad, but sort of interesting. Maybe Obaachan will approve. Maybe I can work up the courage to use the others...


10 comments:

Nancy said...

What a lovely thing for your MIL to do! I can see why you are very apprehensive about cutting into them. I wonder if you could make something for her out of one of them? A shirt like you made yourself? Would she wear something like that?

be*mused jan said...

What a treasure, Tanya! I have seen some beautiful kimonos displayed...with a rod through the shoulders/sleeves...on a wall in a foyer or sitting room. Is this a possibility with the most special of them?
I have been gifted with many kimonos on my trips to Japan, as well as lovely pieces of indigo and silks, remnants fom old pieces, but lovely patterns to use in quilts and small projects. Funny that you write this post today because just this week I happened upon the large container full in the closet and decided that I really should start using them, despite my hesitation to make that first cut. If I don't use them, who knows where they'll end up. And they were given to me to be used, just as your MIL gave you her treasured pieces.

Quilt Pixie said...

I cannot imagine cutting such treasures, but that said, would it help to think of them in terms of the cost you'd pay if they'd gone to a recycle shop? I'm sure your MIL gave them to you as she really does want to see them used. Even if you're sewing is not great they will be enjoyed, which is more then storing them away can say...

Jeannie said...

What a beautiful gesture your MIL made. I was faced with a similiar dilema with some of my great grandmother's clothing. While not valuable, they had sentimental value. I ended up making pillows for each of the grand & great grandchildren, so we all have something of hers. The first cut of the cloth is the hardest.

Canquilt said...

Such a wonderful gift to receive such a loved tradition and loved possession from your MIL. Maybe you could make a small wallhanging from all of them for her for her rememberence. I am sure that she would love that. I have a beautiful silk obi that is one of my prized possessions. I paid a lot of $$ for it in Toyko but I use it on top of a Korean step chest as a runner. It is very beautiful and I get to enjoy it everyday; it is not in a dark box. A wallhanging for your MIL would be a way for her to enjoy them everyday, not be stored in the dark box.

atet said...

What a nice thing for your mil to do. I know you don't always get along, so it's doubly special. I'd probably save one of the kimono for your daughter and then do what she asked -- use them. I can also see making her a small wall hanging or pillow of the fabrics so she can see them and use them herself.

Hedgehog said...

What a wonderful, but bittersweet, gift. Don't be afraid to use them - your skills are very good and it would be a shame for them to simply move from one closet box to another.

The Calico Cat said...

From what I can see, they are lovely & should be treasured - not to be confused with hoarded... Your comments reminded me of my feelings when I cut into my Daiwabo taupes and ahem cat fabrics... (I still have a few of those that only have the tiniest cuts out of the yardage... Sad when you think about it, huh?)

BTW It is official, my cats are not amused by catnip or whistling... I only got a look that said, WE WANT CAT FOOD!

Shelina said...

That certainly would be a hard decision - so much money was paid for them but they sit in the closet unused.

If you cut them up, you risk the chance that you might ruin them. Although from everything you have shown us, your sewing is wonderful. Glad it is your decision and not yours - I am having trouble with the decision making lately. Just remember though, that if you really do mess up, you can always cut them smaller and take up crazy quilting. Or sell kits on ebay!

Amy said...

The kimono fabric is luscious looking forward to see how they are transformed.