Women’s

Fashion in
Medieval
Japan
 Fashion!

Japan, like all cultures, had found their own style and clothing. Simplicity and
beauty are significant and the clothing had represented much of that. There are
many different and unique clothes and dresses for women that came out of the
shogunate period.
When did different
styles/clothing arrive?
The oldest style found dates back to between the 3rd and 5th
century.
Women wore the jacket over a pleated skirt.
The jackets were called kinu and the women’s skirts were named
mo.
Two-piece clothing was popular and common at that time.
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JUNIHITOE
 KIMONO

KIMONO
Were there different
clothes for social classes?
The quality, material and design of the clothes especially
kimonos depended on ones rank in the feudal system
Emperors would wear the highest quality kimonos.
Merchants, peasants, artisans wore very rough types of
kimonos made of cotton. The rest of the upper class like
samurai women would wear beautiful kimonos made of
comfortable silk as silk was significant in Japan and the
Japanese specialized in it.
Age
There were also different clothes for different people of age.
Young people and children wore bright and several colours to
show and represent their youth. Older people, generations and
especially samurai wore darker colours like grey and black to
show their wisdom, modesty and old age.
Colour and Marriage
Colour was also a symbol of rank in Medieval Japan. Red
sometimes meant you were associated with Chinese families, and
green meant that you were associated with Korean families.

There were kimonos for different people. The kimono furisode is

used for unmarried women. Tomesode is for married women.
How was it made?
Raising silkworms had already arrived in Japan. Silk was
regarded as most beautiful and for higher ranked people and
groups. Cotton was for the lower rank of people. Linen was one
of the oldest materials found.
Hakama were first made from Aizome which is a traditional
method of dyeing. It is filled with indigo plants. It starts from
dark purple then after bleeding and washing it turns to different
shades of blue. Kimono is made from only one long roll of fabric.
The normal size of one roll is 0.38m x 13m.
The roll is split into 8 parts
It is sewn with straight line stitches.
Weaving and Dyeing
There are some weaving and dyeing techniques. One is Nishijin-
Ori which is woven textile where they use many colourful yarns
and make patterns. There is Yuzen dyeing, widely known in
Japan. Yuzen dyeing is used for obi sashes and kimonos. The
designs have lots of nature on them like birds and plants.
What events were they
worn in?
At events, split-toe white socks would be worn with a kimono.
An elaborate kimono would be put on top of a pastel or white one
at weddings.
Brides wearing a pastel or white hat with flowers
Women would wear a special kimono called chubrisode at
weddings, parties, new years eve celebrations etc.
Are there artworks? Yes! There are artworks as
visual representation
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