Day 14 of 30-Day Writing Challenge
I’m trying to minimize the purchase of my clothes.
I still wear a T-shirt that I bought when I went to Grand Canyon for the first and only time 32 years ago. I’ve been wearing the same jeans for over 15 years. They were brand new when I bought them, but now have holes here and there. Thanks to the latest trend, these holes and tears are now regarded as my fashion statement. Maybe I can keep wearing these jeans for 10 more years, assuming I keep my weight as it is.
The only exception is kimono. I’m saving money to buy new kimono, hopefully every year. Preferably having it totally custom made. I consult with my retailer, carefully select the craftsperson, learning about how they prepare the fabrics and what kind of skills are required to make the work of art
I refuse to buy a kimono made of synthetic fabric. I’m well aware of its convenience. I could throw it in the washing machine after each time I wear it. But how much damage are we pressing upon all the other life form on earth just to satisfy the human being’s convenience? For me, kimono is a symbol, a reminder of the importance of living in harmony with nature. A synthetic kimono fabric, therefore, is an oxymoron to me.
When I had my summer kimono and obi made during the pandemic, I documented the whole process of how a team of craftspeople worked together to make my kimono and obi. Hopefully that piece will be published sometime soon. The purpose of my writing up this piece was so that whoever reads it may be interested and inspired to have his/her own kimono made like me.
For more casual occasions, I look forward to shopping vintage haori (a kimono jacket) at Kyoto Art and Antiques, a twice-a-year sale that is held in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood. Mostly I choose ones with an elaborate tie-dye method called “So-shibori.” Haori, in my opinion, go pretty well with casual wear, even jeans.
What is distinctive in both kimono and haori, is the long sleeves. Inefficient? Maybe. But elegant! Through practicing tea cermony, I realized how effective kimono is to make my movement more graceful. With these long sleeves, I pay much more attention to how I move my arms. “Does it look beautiful?”
“Who cares?” You might say. But I do. The graceful movement of my body makes me feel good. What is wrong with it? That’s my style.