A Layered Small Practice Kimono: Hinagata

ca. mid twentieth century
21 3/4" x 18 1/2", 57.5 cm x 47 cm

This is a tiny, cotton kimono, extremely charming and well-made.  It looks like it was made to fit a doll, when in fact it was hand stitched in order to learn how a full-sized kimono is constructed.

It is composed of a black cotton exterior with layers of red and cotton underneath, with a half-white/half-yellow cotton lining.  Beautifully executed.

A super charming little piece of old Japan, this hinagata gives us a glimpse into the everyday skills that a girl needed to learn during a time when women hand stitched their own kimono.

Delightful.