TAILORED WITH LOVE: CHILDREN’S KIMONO THROUGHOUT GENERATIONS

Exhibition April 5 – June 8, 2024

Tailored With Love: Children’s Kimono Throughout Generations showcases traditional Japanese children’s clothing and artefacts, dating from the Edo period to the early Showa period. Curated by Iwao Nagasaki (Director of Kyoritsu Women’s University Museum, Professor of Department of Textiles and Clothing), this exhibition guides viewers through 200 years of children’s kimono styles, each representative of the eras during which they were crafted.

Children’s kimono are comforting to look at, and not just because of their miniature sizes. Each kimono design reflects the love of a mother who painstakingly sewed the garment, or a parent who chose the robe for their child to wear. Tailored With Love features a selection of children’s kimono inspired by the care and affection that parents have poured into their children, while also reflecting the historical context of each garment’s creation. From bold floral patterns to more subdued designs featuring pastels and animal motifs, the kimono on display in this exhibition reflect the diversity of textiles at the time.

Tailored With Love will be held at The Japan Foundation Gallery from April 5 to June 8, 2024.

About the Curator

IWAO NAGASAKI

Iwao Nagasaki is Director of Kyoritsu Women’s University Museum and Professor of the Department of Textiles and Clothing, Kyoritsu Women’s University. He is also former Curator of the Textile Section at Tokyo National Museum. His major research and publication are on textiles and costumes of the 16th through early 20th century, especially kosode (kimono) and noh robes. He curated numerous exhibitions in Japan over the past 25 years and was also the co-curator of several exhibitions held in Western countries. He has contributed his knowledge to a number of publications in English, for example The Japanese Spirit of Gifting: Giving Shape to One’s Thoughts and Emotions－The Beauty of Exchanging Gifts in Japan, a travelling exhibition catalogue.

Works

Hitotsumi (child’s dress), design of bamboo and tigers on light blue plain silk ground
Edo period, latter half of 18th century ~ first half of 19th century