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kimonodesigns@sbcglobal.netDuring my seven-year stay in Japan as a college administrator, I became immersed in Japanese culture. I attended Kabuki theater, studied flower arrangement, and visited serene gardens, always enjoying the simplicity of classic Japanese design. This elegant style is especially apparent in the beautiful kimonos worn by children, by young adults at their coming-of-age celebrations, at wedding parties and, most of all, for the tea ceremony.
My lifetime interest in textiles lead me to collect these beautiful vintage kimonos, each one more fascinating than the next. I wasn't content to leave them in drawers, so I designed contemporary garments for myself. Soon friends called on me to fashion one-of-a-kind apparel for them. By 1995, I'd held several trunk shows, which resulted in a feature story in a leading Japanese newspaper and a showing at the United States Embassy in Tokyo.
Richly embroidered silk kimonos, ornate brocade obis, elaborate wedding robes, colorful and charming children's gowns--they all take on new lives in my original designs. Each of them inspires me to create a particular garment or accessory.
As more people come to appreciate the beauty and history of vintage textiles, these treasured fabrics are becoming increasingly scarce. Even for Japanese women of today, kimonos and obis have become family heirlooms, not everyday wear. I enjoy fashioning them into hand-crafted jackets, handbags, scarves and neckties. It's my pleasure not just to recycle, but to resurrect these vintage works of fiber art to create unique, contemporary clothing designs especially for you.
Theresa Gallup
Springfield, MO