Documenting how my summer kimono and obi were made
As soon as the year 2020 began, I started planning my next spring trip back to Japan. One of the itineraries was a visit to Mamiya-san, my new kimono retailer, in his store in Osaka.
Although my kimono collection grew thanks to my mother and her friends handing me down their old ones, I was still lacking a summer kimono formal enough to wear for tea ceremony gatherings. Since our tea ceremony group in Seattle was planning a special gathering to celebrate its 50th anniversary in the summer of 2021, I convinced myself to get a new one for this occasion.
I emailed Mamiya-san about my plan. He was excited. Let’s discuss it over dinner! He would contact Reiko-san of Rakufulin so that she could join. I was looking forward to meeting them again in Japan.
Then COVID-19 hit the world…
I had to cancel my trip. Early April Mamiya-san closed his store. All of a sudden, business just halted, and Reiko-san had to put her employees on furlough. Let’s talk, I suggested, and we scheduled for a video chat.
I asked Mamiya-san and Reiko-san if they could choose a summer obi and kimono for me. Preferably Katsuyama-san’s summer obi. Reiko-san’s response was shocking. Katsuyama-san was unlikely to make any more summer obis. There is just not enough demand any more. Oh no! Reiko-san also said this lockdown would push more craftspeople to retire. No no! That can’t happen!
“Before it’s too late, please make both kimono and obi for me,” – Akemi
“Why not have both the kimono and the obi custom made so that they match perfect?” – Mamiya-san
“Let’s document and post the process, on Mamiya-san’s blog in Japanese, and on my blog in English! So that many more people will be interested to have their own kimono custom made” – Akemi
“Rakufulin doesn’t have a website, but it’s time to communicate what we do directly to end customers.” – Reiko-san
“I can help you make a simple website.” – Akemi
“Let’s call this We Love Kimono Project!” – We all agreed.