The kimono is one of the most widely recognised pieces of clothing that is as paradoxical as Japan itself. Its apparent simplicity may, upon a closer look, reveal exquisite scenes embroidered with the finest silk thread or filaments of gold that catch the light just before one is about to look away. Even the plainest kimono offers something to admire in the texture and colour of the fabric.
Luckily, there is plenty of time to linger at the new exhibition of kimono and accessories direct from Japan on show for the first time in Australia at the Immigration Museum in Melbourne.
Kimono: Osaka’s Golden Age showcases the sumptuous culture of the traditional kimono – its style, design, meaning and forms, as well as how to wear one.
On exhibition are around 60 highly decorated kimono, along with accessories such as shoes and hair ornaments from the late Edo (1603–1867) and Meiji (1868–1912) periods of Japan.
