Japan is known for its beautiful kimonos. At home or away, kimonos can be worn for any occasion. But every occasion has its own kimono with its own story.
The uchikake kimono is a long coat with wide sleeves, made of quilted silk. Its origin dates back to the Kamakura period (1185-1333) when it was worn by the wives of samurai.
Later, at the beginning of the Muromachi era (1333-1573), the women of the nobility wore it from the beginning of May to the end of September. It then became a winter garment, made of a thick fabric (karaori), decorated with embroidery combined with inlaid gold or silver leaf (nuihaku).
From the early Edo period onwards, it was made of white, red or black damask satin (rinzu) and decorated with rich embroidery.
Nowadays, the uchikake is still worn over a kimono by young brides during the wedding ceremony. It is very loose and remains open. The motifs most commonly represent pine trees, bamboos, cranes, plum blossoms or turtles, all of which symbolize longevity. Red is the dominant color.
Worn or used as a decorative piece, this kimono will know how to dress you or your home.