heirlooms
I have a family Kimono. But Odd, you aren't Japanese how can you have a family kimono? Well actually we have 2. My grandfather brought them back with him after the war before he married my grandmother. the brief story is that he bought them from a couple who was trying to buy passage back to Japan. They are ordinary everyday wear kimonos, one is dressier then the other its blue/gray with mums accented in dark blue, silver, and red. The other almost looks southwestern. Its blue with black and orange in a rodeo shirt patter. They have to be about sixty years old. They are in disrepair. I am attempting to restore the dressier one. I read so much about the care and maintenance. The red lining of the sleeve had dry-rot and redeposited red onto the outer part of the sleeves giving the sleeves a peachy variegated look. I am replacing the sleeve lining. There is fading on the shoulders so this adds to the variegated effect. I don't know how to fix that. the cuffs are frayed, I removed them, refolded the silk and put it back in place. The collar was completely faded, I removed it and refolded fabric and am in the process of sewing it back on. There isn't a machine stitch on this whole garment. I have so much respect for the person who made this thing.
My grandmother used to wear it to costume parties, my youngest aunt wore it as a prom dress, and they were, if you'll believe my grandfather, the only thing he owned other then a navy uniform when he marred my grandmother. I don't want them to die on my watch.
My grandmother used to wear it to costume parties, my youngest aunt wore it as a prom dress, and they were, if you'll believe my grandfather, the only thing he owned other then a navy uniform when he marred my grandmother. I don't want them to die on my watch.