A Boro Child's Kimono: Wear and Tear

ca. mid twentieth century
31 1/2" x 31 1/4", 80 cm x 79.5 cm

This is a child's kimono which is fashioned from what appears to be a kind of mechanized kasuri cotton exterior and a pieced, indigo cotton lining.

The kimono has been worn hard as can be seen by threadbare areas on the collar and sleeves; the area where the sleeve meets the body of the small garment is weakened and there are unraveled threads at that area.

As well, the "obi" closure on the front of the garment, a printed cotton, is clearly creased from a good deal of wear, which is understandable for a child's garment, which no doubt was a hand-me-down for most of its life.

Still the large patterned kasuri exterior is bold and lovely, and this small kimono conveys the warmth of human wear, which is why we like old Japanese textiles, at least in part.