A pair of jeans that you never wash for six months sounds counterintuitive. Yet, this is exactly the method recommended by Japanese denim enthusiasts to achieve that unique patina, those wear marks that tell the story of the person wearing them. Here’s how to properly care for selvedge denim without destroying what makes it so interesting. Why Japanese selvedge denim ages differently Japanese selvedge denim stands out from classic industrial jeans due to its weaving on traditional shuttle looms, which are slower and more expensive to operate than modern looms, but produce a denser fabric and a characteristic self-finished edge, an immediately recognizable sign of quality. This weaving density directly influences how the jeans will age over time. Low-quality denim...
A washing machine, a little hot water, and silk can lose its shape, luster, or colors in just a few minutes. The silk kimono is one of the most demanding pieces to maintain in a wardrobe, but with the right care, it can last for decades without losing any of its beauty. Here’s how to take care of it properly. Why silk requires different care than other fabrics Silk is a natural fiber of animal origin, produced by the cocoon of the silkworm, which makes it fundamentally different from cotton or synthetic fibers in terms of care. Its protein structure reacts poorly to certain common chemicals, excessive heat, and mechanical friction, three elements that are typically found in a standard...
A kimono that is too short falls to mid-calf instead of brushing the ankles. A kimono that is too long drags on the ground and complicates every step. Unlike a t-shirt or Western pants, a kimono is not chosen simply by relying on one's usual size. Here’s how to avoid the most common mistake among first-time buyers. Measurements to take before buying a kimono A kimono is not cut to follow the body's shapes like most Western clothing. It is a large rectangular piece of fabric, folded and adjusted to the silhouette with pleats and a belt, the obi. This construction completely changes the logic of size selection: what matters most is the length of the garment and the width...
During his enthronement, the Emperor of Japan Naruhito did not wear a Western suit or even an ordinary kimono. He wore the sokutai, a ceremonial outfit whose origins date back over a thousand years, and which today remains reserved for the emperor and the highest dignitaries of the Japanese imperial court. Laquered headdress, ritual scepter, layered robes in symbolic colors: the sokutai is one of the most spectacular and least known vestimentary vestiges of Japanese civilization. The sokutai: everything you need to know about this imperial outfit The sokutai (束帯) is a garment worn exclusively by courtiers, aristocrats of the court, and the Emperor of Japan. Its appearance dates back to the middle of the Heian period, during which the...
A gap between the big toe and the other toes: that's all it takes to recognize the tabi, one of the oldest yet least known pieces of Japanese clothing in the West, until a Parisian fashion house made it one of the most copied and commented shoes in contemporary fashion. Between artisanal tradition, strict dress codes, and unexpected recovery by global luxury, the tabi tells a story much richer than its simple function as a sock. Tabi: origin and history of this Japanese sock The tabi (足袋) is a traditional Japanese sock whose main characteristic is to separate the big toe from the other toes through a vertical slit. This particular construction is not just an aesthetic choice: it serves...
