Kotobuki Kimonos by Granzella

Granzella's new release of their congratulatory Kimonos to celebrate the New Year is here and as vivid as Picaso's painting. But with so much enriching detail, there is one thing that I would like to address to the developer, as well as the Home Admin.

By Jin Lovelace; TTi Founder, Writer, Fashionist.

There is something special about Kimonos and cultural experience on Home. Traversing over to the Great Edo of Nippon public space, for one, calls for a surreal background followed with soothing sounds of Japanese musical instruments to fill the area with serenity and peace. This is a more than a inviting way to welcome users to the space with such color hues to match the comfort feeling 

Once achieving the comfort and relaxation comes the meaning of the word "kotobuki" (or 'ju'), which roughly translates to "wishing a longevity" or "blessings of one's longevity." In term, this is to bring in a New Year, a new chapter to one's life. 

Kimonos, however, have a very enriching history behind their garments; one of which provides a great significance to the Japanese and as well as to modern society today.


History of the Kimonos

The Kimono is a Japanese traditional garment worn by women, men and children. The word itself has a funny, yet literal meaning, translating from a"thing to wear": Ki being "wear" and mono "wear". Though the standard plural of the word in English is kimonos, the unmarked Japanese plural kimono is acceptable and sometimes used.

Kimono are T-shaped, straight-lined robes worn so that the hem falls to the ankle, with attached collars and long, wide sleeves. Kimono are wrapped around the body, always with the left side over the right (except when dressing the dead for burial.), and secured by a sash called an obi, which is tied at the back. Kimono are generally worn with traditional footwear (especially zori  or geta) and split-toe socks (tabi).

However, the kimono has another name: gofuku, which translates to "clothes of Wu". The earliest kimonos were actually heavily influenced by traditional Han Chinese clothing, known today as hanfu (kanfuku in Japanese), through Japanese embassies in China which resulted in extensive Chinese culture adoptions by Japan, as early as the 5th century AD. By the 8th century, the Chinese styles came more into prominence for style among the Japanese, and the overlapping of the collar became more particularly a woman's fashion.  There has been an increase on the style of the garment during certain periods,  from Heian, Muromachi age to the Edo period, depicting different statements on the fashion, more so for unmarried women. 

To this day, the basic shape of the Kimono for men and women has remain unchanged. The apparel naturally are worn on special occasions, however the formal kimonos were replaced by Western wear and Yukatas as everyday wear, being that the Yukatas have more of a breezier, comfortable design that the kimonos lack. 


Price

If you're looking for a kimono to wear, they may exceed over $10,000 US, with a complete set--kimono, undergarments, obi, ties, socks, sandals, and accessories--roughly over $20,000 US; even a single obi can cost over several thousand dollars. The reason for this being due to special fabric (a certain single bolt fabric used for the kimonos is called Tan) and intricate dye used (one being for popular textile art used called shibori), as well as for labor; traditionally, kimonos are sewn by hand and even machine-made kimonos would require substantial hand-stitching.

Both the kimono and obi are traditionally made of silk, silk brocade, silk crepes (such as chirimen) and satin weaves (such as rinzu). Modern kimonos are widely available in less-expensive easy-care fabrics such as rayon, cotton sateen, cotton, polyester and other synthetic fibers. Silk is still considered the ideal fabric.

There are fifteen parts of the kimono: six parts from the back, eight being in the front that makes up the garment. 


Style

There are 9 styles for women, while men have a much simpler style and typically only consists of 5 pieces, not including footwear. Most of the kimonos would require aid from a professional kimono dresser, as not many modern Japanese women lack the required skill to put one on themselves; the typical woman's kimono outfit consists of twelve or more separate pieces that are worn, matched, and secured in prescribed ways.

Choosing an appropriate type of kimono requires knowledge of the garment's symbolism and subtle social messages, reflecting the woman's age, marital status, and the level of formality of the occasion. One comes to mind would be the Furisode Kimono. 

The style's namesake literally means "swinging sleeves"--the sleeves of furisode average between 39 and 42 inches (110 cm) in length. The furisode   are the most formal kimono for unmarried women, with colorful patterns that cover the entire apparel. They are usually worn at coming-to-age ceremonies and by unmarried female relatives of the bride at weddings and wedding receptions.













Furisode Kimonos by Granzella

Right after Irem's doors closed to the community to blossom into the company that is Granzella, we saw many of the Home denizens clamor over last purchases of the items, notably the Kimonos. While most would use the items for mix 'n match purposes albeit with disasterous results, some would wear them traditionally. At the time, there only a few solid colors and optional pattern colored garments to choose from but for what they were, the items really had quite a potential. 

Today, Granzella has graced us with more Kimonos with a bevy of colorful options and themese to choose from.  On New Years of 2013, we were treated with the furisode-styles Kotobuki Kimonos.

Pink

My first impression upon laying my eyes on these lush garments could only be described as the following words: serene, vivid, surreal, lucid, and tranquil. One can't even imagine on how the developer could create such detailed patterns on the garments, neither can I put it into technical words on how these really could create such an impact to the eyes. regardless, the kimonos are--quite literally--a moving magnificent work of art. The silky appeal along with the fur laced around the top collar enhances the "cute" factor while the sleeves really move with your arms. Normally, such accessory items like the Purses have a static when using certain poses, limiting which poses you could use. While the swinging sleeves have quite an exception to this rule, the same deal applies in the sense of the mimigoro (front main panel of the kimono), where using the Educated and Sensual poses from Drey's Supermodel Poses completely tears apart and becomes very unattractive. Use at your own risk, however I find it just fine if you were to pose with Wistful, Relaxed, or any of the default ones. 

The furisode styles comes in two sets, each are compiled of 29 pieces: 

-Two different color style Kimonos

-A Hairstyle (one Elegant, the other Cute) 

-Tall Geta (Tabis)

-25 Hairspieces (near, far, neutral and in the styles of a Flower and Chrysanthemum, left and right of the head)

Sky Blue

One set represents the lighter-tone colors (Pink and Sky Blue) and the other more darker-toned (Scarlet and Bluish-purple, which I personally think they could had named the color Midnight or Morning Dew). Creatively, these patterns are just beyond imagination gorgeous! I find it that you could wear these kimonos in junction with the Japanese Teahouse Apartment and its Stone Sundial function, as they coincidentally matched each of the diurnal backgrounds, excluding the Night time option--though the Scarlet Kimono might be the exception to the rule. Regardless of which time of the day you choose to wear them, the colors are brilliantly detailed and are just a work of art!

Scarlet

Of the four (though I love them all), I find myself drawn heavily towards the Bluish-purple furisode, being that--obviously--the color blend is just sensational and a rarity to see in Home fashion. As I said before, it's a great monotony breaker of seeing the average blacks and reds, while adding something that could blend into morning time. If you haven't gone to the Great Edo of Nippon public space yet, I advise that you do so with this particular kimono on. I promise that your eyes will feast upon what it's worth. 

Bluish-purple

Though these kimonos are arguably the best Granzella has released to date, there are some extreme concerns that I wish to take my time out to express here. First off, it is a brilliant strategy that the developer would bundle their fashion items together for a safe price to get what you receive, but I personally think the said strategy could be a bit too whimsical. Mostly, if the Consumer decides that they exclusively desire one kimono over the other, they are forced to not only pay the $4.49 for another kimono that's in the set, but for the rest of the 25 items that will--quite literally--destroy your wardrobe set up. So not only do you have to go in with the knowledge of what you're purchasing, but you have to actually consolidate your closet and prepare for the avalanche of items that follows. This can be unpleasant for the average Consumer and even the fans. My suggestion to the developers is that you not only sell the bundles but also sell the items seperately so the consumer can decide what would be efficient for them. For instance, sell the Sky Blue kimono along with the Tall Getas, and the hairstyle as one bundle for a fair price, and so on and so forth with teh rest of the Kimonos. You can also bundle the hairpieces for a good price as an option for those who wish to stylize their hairstyles. This would be much efficient to the user who doesn't desire a wardrobe apocalypse. 

It's not to say what Granzella's bundle strategy isn't working at all, no. I personally don't see a problem with it at all because if I desire the items, I'll get it. Whatever I don't use, I just throw in the storage for later. The main gripe doesn't lie on the developers; it lies on whoever designed the wardrobe interface. Every organization, other developers, and even the admin can all agree that Home has evolved into a social source and each week we're treated with some quality, solid items from veteran and new devs alike. 

If anything, I simply wish not to deter this article into a rant on the wardrobe so instead I would like to strongly suggest that we receive an increase in our wardrobe. In fact, perhaps a great overhaul and evaluate the storage function because as longs we receive weekly content updates, Consumers will purchase what they like, and more and ore items are sent into Storage. As a virtual fashionist and lover of Home fashion, you can only imagine the long journey of my search for a pair of Denims; it's almost as though I could write a chapter tale on said search! >:/


Overall

I feel there is no negative reason on purchasing these magnificent Kimonos aside from the aforementioned gripe that I have. If you personally feel that your aesthetics are narrow due to the lack of desire on one of the Kimonos of your choosing in either set I think you should have an open mind. The price tag isn't asking for much aside from that you enjoy the items for what it is. It wouldn't deter your character and, upon watching my video presentation below, I doubt that you would turn away from this glorious works of art. 

Just have your wardrobe prepped for the hairpieces, as they will come aplenty. 



~Jin Lovelace