Kimonos 3 - Structure

Kimonos are traditionally made from a single bolt of fabric called a tan. Tan come in standard dimensions—about 14 inches wide and 12½ yards long —and the entire bolt is used to make one kimono.


One of factors determining the high class kimono is if the patterns are drawn to form a unified picture across the entire canvas of the Kimono which is not interrupted at the seams A piece of Kimono is made from a single bolt of fabric called a “tan”. The tan is straight cut to 8 pieces to make a Kimono. In the case of high class Kimono, when the “tan” is made into a Kimono, the patterns are carefully matched to become one piece of artistic work. Since this requires a good deal of time and effort in designing and cutting, this kind of Kimono are considered to be high class, as opposed to average Kimono which need not meet this standard. Uchikake Kimono are of the matching motif type, which identifies them as a very high class Kimono. 


The above photo (woman in furisode kimono) shows the continuation of pattern - very high rank kimono.


 Our Uchikake kimono has also the continuation of pattern, like an art.