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Even though the kimono was originally from China, Japanese people have been wearing kimonos for hundreds of years, and the kimono attained its height of beauty in 17th and 18th century Japan.

The cloth and color combinations often indicated the social or political status of the wearer and the colors of kimonos changed according to the season. These days, the kimono is no longer a purely traditional robe.

Traditionally, all girls in Japan learned to master the arts of making clothes and sewing. But sewing was less difficult than in the west. The girdle, haori and kimono, and even the long hanging sleeves, had only parallel seams. The clothes were, in fact, taken apart for cleaning, and each piece, after being slightly starched, was stretched on a board for drying, before being sewn back together again.

There are many kinds of silk kimono: the long-sleeved, gorgeous types worn by geisha or young girls, the formal kimono stamped with the wearer’s family crest and worn on formal occasions; kimono for men and kimono for children. A young woman would wear a kimono with long sleeves and an Obi, a wide silk or brocade sash about 12 feet long and twelve inches wide. As the girl gets older, the kimono designs become smaller and the colors richer and deeper while the obi is made narrower and worn deeper. Also, haori, a short knee-length kimono, is often worn. These days, a kimono is usually only donned for special occasions and is mostly worn by women, but some men also wear this garb. Both kimono and haori may be hung from a hardwood bar as wall art.

As an indulgence or ideal gift, kimono clothing is extremely versatile, a welcome addition to any wardrobe.

Perhaps the most popular color for a kimono is red, derived from safflower. The yukata is similar to the kimono, except it is made of light-weight cotton and is less formal.