Appearing for the first time in the 13th century, the word "kimono" designates "the thing that one carries on oneself". More than a simple dress, the kimono, made in a minimum of pieces cut from a single piece of fabric, is considered by the Japanese as a jewel of their heritage. At first glance immutable, frozen in the eternity of traditions, it actually continues to evolve. This reference book, drawing on the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum, explores the sartorial and cultural meanings of the kimono, and its influence on fashion in both Japan and the West since the 17th century. Its minimalist, fluid and gender-neutral shape consecrates - today as yesterday - its success all over the world.
The exhibition catalog is accompanied by an unpublished booklet with interviews with Anna Jackson, curator of the exhibition, and Serge Mouangue, artist and fashion designer.
Under the direction of Anna Jackson