This is really a lovely example of this kind of kimono with a lovely traditional pattern and in excellent vintage condition.
This type of kimono is very rare to find. I don't often see these in good condition. It is very unusual to find a vintage shibori yukata without some significant stains but this example has nothing conspicuous.
The base colour is the traditional dark blue and white. The whole pattern is done by hand crafted, shibori tie dye technique in white, hot pink, light red and yellow.
The pattern shows large flowers and leaves which I think are sunflowers, a typical summer motif.
Much of the patterning is done in thousands of very small circles These little circles are called kanoko (spots of the fawn). Kanoko are considered auspicious because deer are revered in Japan.
The petals are done in some slightly larger circles.
SHIBORI is an amazing, ancient, traditional, Japanese decorative technique where each tiny circle or dot of the design has been individually tied and dyed to create the pattern. It is a laborious and skillful technique which creates an expensive garment. Shibori is highly prized in Japan, not only because it creates marvelous patterns but also because the parts of the pattern that are dyed by shibori become slightly raised or ruched, thus creating a unique texture in the fabric.
The skill of shibori is dying out as there are fewer and fewer people with these skills nowadays.
Please have a look at this video. If you go to about 6 minutes in and you will see a similar pattern being made and how amazing it is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg-udpb8aRQ
So this yukata is made of the good quality, fairly soft, durable cotton. The shibori work sometimes gives a strong crinkle texture that you only get with shibori work. In this vintage item, the crinkle texture is a little more subdued but still discernible in the cotton. It is fully hand stitched and formed in the traditional style.
In Japan this yukata would be known to be a women's yukata because the slit on the inner side of the box sleeve is long and open (the slit is short and closed on a man's yukata) and the pattern is feminine.
I often get asked if I can supply a yukata with a belt so that it can easily be worn as a dressing gown (they are traditionally worn with obi belts which would be bought separately). So I am offering this authentic Japanese yukata kimono with a complementary, simple, cotton tie belt made from very dark blue, vintage kimono cotton. (the blue may not be exactly matching).
It is partially lined in the traditional way in white cotton in just the shoulder area only. This is quite typical for this kind of summer wear kimono.
The belt is newly-made from dark blue, Japanese, vintage, kimono cotton.
AGE & CONDITION: This yukata has a little age as it is fully hand stitched and the crinkle texture of the shibori is slightly subdued which suggests age. The shorter length, small body size and that the designs is made by real shibori work also indicated age. The lining however is incredibly clean suggesting a more recent date. It is difficult to date these kind of traditional kimono accurately because they have been made in the same way for many decades. I would say it is probably late Showa period (1926-1989).
It is in excellent/near mint vintage condition and I found no conspicuous faults. However it is not perfect as you might expect. On very close inspection there is a tiny bit of yellowing in the centre of some of the white petals which is too subtle to show on the photos.. Any irregularities in the patterning is due to the hand made nature of shibori work and is not normally considered a fault. This is a vintage item with some age, in great overall shape but please do not expect it be exactly like new.
SIZE: This yukata is a fairly average size for a vintage yukata so it is slightly smaller and much shorter than contemporary kimono (which tend to be very long indeed). This is a great bonus as it is much near to a 'normal' wearable length, (depending on your height). It is very easy to shorten in the normal way at the hem, if it is still too long.
It should fit a range of sizes as it is a wrap round style, up to a maximum of UK size 12 but please check the measurements against your own dressing gown.
Overall Length is 57"/145cm.
Cuff to cuff width is 50"/127cm.
The width across the back (side seam to side seam) is 58.5cm/23". The width all around at the waist, from the front of one side, all the way round the back, to the front of the other side is about 51"/130cm and please remember you need a good crossover in the front.
The belt is about size 165cm/65" long by 3cm/1.25" The set is fairly lightweight and weighs about 500g.
The vintage yukata I offer are not the same as many of the yukata kimonos sold in the UK, or to tourists in Japan which are often made in China and of poor quality cotton or synthetic but rather these garments are genuine, Japanese, vintage, traditional, hand-stitched or partially hand-stitched (unless otherwise stated) garments.
YUKATA comes from “YU” meaning bath and “Katabira” meaning under-clothing. Over one thousand years ago court nobles wore linen Kimonos or “yukatabira” which were draped loosely over the body after taking a bath. Yukata gradually became worn by the warriors, who would also use the yukata like a towel to dry after a bath. The general public began to wear cotton kimonos about three hundred years ago when the Japanese public bath became popular. These kinds of light weight cotton kimonos were worn everyday as casual clothing after taking a bath—bathrobes! Now the yukata is widely used for everything from traditional Japanese dance, for summer festival wear and casual wear in the summer, to simple night attire. Today, yukata generally means an unlined cotton kimono for casual wear.
WHY CAN SOME WOMEN'S KIMONO BE SO LONG? Contemporary and formal kimono can be very long indeed. This is because they are traditionally shortened by hitching up at the waist and hiding the excess fabric behind the wide obi belt that would traditionally be worn with it. Of course this could be shortened in the normal way by hemming if you wish.
Washing information - Cotton yukata can usually be hand or machine washed at low temperatures. However very occasionally vintage yukata will have slight colour runs in water. I have actually washed this yukata in a cool wash and it came out fine but please wash separately.