Monthly Meeting - "More Than Just a Little Thing to Wear"
Tuesday 12 November
In the early days of the SWRI, meetings were scheduled so members could find their way to the hall by the light of the full moon – it certainly worked its magic tonight with nearly 50 members and friends packed into the Ruskie Hall to listen as our speaker Sue Selwyn, a life long textile collector and curator, introduced us to the history and intricacies of Japanese kimono.
When Sue purchased her first kimono the sales lady tried very politely to explain to her that it was not appropriate for her to wear that design & colour as she was neither a young girl, nor unmarried (but she bought it anyway!) and by sharing beautiful photographs and exquisite silk examples Sue took us on a journey through time, and levels of formality associated with this traditional Japanese way of dressing. Although children wear kimono for some blessing ceremonies it is really at coming of age (20 years) that individuals start to own or hire kimono. Feminine designs are often flower or nature based, masculine include warriors, eagles or Mount Fuji. Both will often have embroidered auspicious symbols eg cranes on them, particularly for wedding kimono as they symbolist longevity and fidelity.
Dressing in kimono involves custom and etiquette with under garments, under kimono (with removable collar), and highly decorated over kimono where the detail is often on the hem so the garments are folded at the waist to preserve this design. They are always closed “left over right” side (right over left is only used on a corpse!). Sue introduced us to the structure of kimono and how they are made very simply from fabric bolts 12” wide with no shoulder seams, and how the sleeve length and lining evolved over the years to the modern day 21c kimono in use today. She also explained the methods of colouring patterns, from the intricate design (first) to the background colour (second) using a series of “resist” and wash/steam to set colour, and finally the painting of up to five family crests on formal designs.
At the end of our journey the beautifully folded kimono Sue started with (kimono are stored flat, not hung) had become a riot of colours and textures as we enthusiastically heard about each of them and started planning our own Japanese trips!
To wrap up the night hostesses Helen Little, Allison McLeod, Seona Michael managed to navigate their way through the crowd to serve another super Ruskie supper.
Competitions
Upcycled Textile – 1) Sheena Gibson, 2) Christine Bauer, 3) Pamela Deans
Button Box – 1) Libby MacGregor, 2) Norma Brewster, 3) Liz Elizabethg Dykes
