ご紹介
Kiyomi Kitagawa It all started with Princess Anne
BRIEF RECORD
 |
|
Why is it “remade-Kimono” ?
Born into a family of kimono lovers, Kiyomi went to work for a major trading firm after completing an English language degree at college. She then changed her job and became an apparel designer, she finally decided that overseas study was necessary to develop a more global sensibility and skill set.
After studying textile and fashion business at New York state university, the Fashion Institute of Technology, and graduating with excellent grades, she worked as a textile and garment designer for an American firm. She really came into her own as a freelance textile designer applying her honed sense of Japanese aesthetic beauty to western culture. Her skills were duly recognized by the merit-based society in which she worked. Kiyomi used her free time to visit the many museums and galleries in New York, feeling that beauty heals the soul.
Upon her return to Japan, Kiyomi worked for many years at an importer of female clothes from Europe. It was at this time that she received an audience with Princess Anne of the British Royal Family. She was highly impressed by the princess’s order-made garment created from British wool, a meeting that forced her to rethink her perception of women and fashion in the Japanese workplace. Several years passed before she decided to become an independent creator of fashionable clothing made from exquisite Japanese kimono fabric. In order to communicate the grandeur of Kimono fabric into the future, she organized some fashion shows for presenting her designs. The shows, which were also attended by representatives of numerous embassies, were well received with comments like “a lovable presentations of kimono fabric” and “the highly refined designs are truly eye opening.”
While visiting in New York, Kiyomi was asked by the head of the Consulate General of Japan in New York to hold a Kimono dress fashion show to further cultural exchange between Japan and the US. Supported by the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, “The Future of KIMONO” Exhibition in New York was held on Culture Day, November 3, 2014, at the ambassador’s official residence. The show was attended by ambassadors’ wives and celebrities from in and around New York. The show, which appealed for world peace under the theme “An Invitation to Silk: From Ties to Bonds”, was an overwhelming success, impressing the audience with magnificently recreated world-class kimono dresses.
The exhibition was held at THE NIPPON CLUB Gallery, high social standing based on tradition contributed by Dr. Hideyo Noguchi and others, during the same week from Nov. 6th until Nov. 12th, generously supported by the Consulate General of Japan in New York. Celebrated as going beyond ethnicity, and as “amazing!” Kiyomi noticed a strong need to promote the wonder of Kimono fabric both domestically and overseas in the future.
Kiyomi places the most emphasis in her work on perfectly matching the design to the fabric, and attractively changing the person wearing the piece. She has continued to pursue the ideal combination of garment design and Kimono fabric while limiting fabric width, length, matching pattern, in everything from the silhouette down to the finest detail.
It’s all about the creation of excellent garments which are both refined and luxurious. It isn’t right to leave authentic silk Kimono fabric in a chest of draws to collect discard over the years.
When broken down into its components, the Japanese character for silkworm also means “heavenly insect.” It is a gift from heaven and an inheritance of proud traditional Japanese craftsmanship.
“I want to contribute to world peace through the skills I possess”
Recent Comments