July 26, 2025

I actually disliked wearing KIMONOs!

The reason I dislike KIMONO

The reason I dislike kimono... it dates back to when I was five years old, during a traditional ceremony that I was celebrated for. According to Japanese custom, I wore a vibrant kimono, took photographs, and participated in the ceremony. However, the very first kimono I wore was so unbearably tight and constricting that I began to detest it the moment my mother helped dress me. I was so uncomfortable that in the photos taken that day, I had a frown and looked as if I might cry at any moment. I decided then and there, 'I will never wear a kimono again!' and I have lived by that resolve for 40 years.

My determination was strong; I avoided wearing kimono at my seven-year ceremony, for my coming-of-age celebration, and even at my wedding, always opting for a dress instead.

The charm and conflict of KIMONO

The kimono, as you can see, is adorned with beautiful craftsmanship, and for Japanese women, it is one of those outfits that makes them think, 'I want to wear this at least once!' However, since a kimono is not an outfit that is worn casually, if the obi belt is not tightly fastened, it will come undone while walking. It is tight like a corset, but that is why it makes you feel tightened up, and it instills a sense of grace in the way you carry yourself while wearing a kimono. You straighten your back, walk more elegantly, and you even want to look beautiful in the gestures of picking things up.

Unfortunately, as an active girl since childhood, I found kimonos, which restricted movement, to be very constraining, and after wearing one, I was overwhelmed by the urge to take it off as quickly as possible. Even as an adult, that impression didn't change, and I lived with that trauma for 40 years.

Awareness of the charm of KIMONO

When I turned 41, I began to consider sharing something that inherited Japanese culture overseas. At first, I was unsure about what to focus on and thought about starting a business to sell traditional craft accessories created by artisans. I was enthusiastic about PR activities. During this time, in 2023, I came across a creator who produced kimono upcycling as we sought exhibitors for an event that my friend and I were planning to host ourselves. I intuitively felt that holding a fashion show would better convey the charm to attendees than just selling items, so we decided to hold a mini fashion show featuring kimono upcycling with models from overseas. The result was a massive success.

Since then, I have re-recognized the charm of kimono.

I decided to propose fashion that allows people who have barriers towards kimono like myself, those who feel intimidated by the difficulty of wearing it, and even foreigners who have never experienced wearing kimono, to easily wear them.

From my personal experience, a proposal for a new KIMONO STYLE.

From such personal experiences, I have come to want to upcycle kimono, which are rarely worn in modern Japan, and propose it as a new fashion genre. I want to refocus on kimono, which even the Japanese are increasingly distancing themselves from, and rediscover and shape the charm of kimono. I would like to update kimono in this way.

For women in their 30s and 40s who find it easy to choose monochrome fashion, adding kimono to their outfits casually can enhance their own charm. Even those who have a negative perception of kimonos, like me, can surely enjoy kimono fashion with such a positive mindset, and I believe this will increase the number of kimono lovers. Because I've had a trauma with kimonos, I am here to present to everyone a 'new kimono style' that I can propose!

▼Online EC Site (KIMONO⁺on shop)：https://www.kimonopluson.com/

▼Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/kimono_pluson