Meiji (19th century) uchikake, embroidered with a sho-chiku-bai design (the “winter trinity” of pine, bamboo, and plum), an auspicious motif because of its association with long life and rebirth of life after the winter. This uchikake is not a wedding kimono; the short sleeves mean that it belonged to a married woman, and the crests [...]

Because so many kimono would be prohibitively expensive, wedding kimono are almost always rented, not purchased. Wedding centers buy kimono from the manufacturers, rent them out to brides, and then sell them cheaply to second-hand dealers and flea markets, who sell them to Westerners for use as display or craft items. Although this means that [...]

In a traditional wedding, the bride changes her clothes several times. She wears a white wedding kimono (shiromuku), the most formal of all wedding attire, for the wedding ceremony. The all-white ensemble, sometimes with touches of red, symbolises good fortune and a new beginning. On her head she wears a hood or other head covering, [...]

Wedding kimonos are traditionally made from heavy silk lined with a lighter-weight silk, although synthetic fabrics are becoming more common. The designs may be woven, dyed, or embroidered; sometimes a combination of techniques is used. The most elaborate and expensive are the ones woven in the Nishijin area of Kyoto, where kimono have been created [...]

Japanese culture is replete with symbolic meanings, and wedding kimono are no exception. The colour combination of red and white is considered lucky, and many uchikake include white birds on a red background or have a red lining in a white garment. In Japan many birds have auspicious associations, and it is very common to [...]

The traditional wedding kimono, known as a uchikake, is a long robe worn unbelted over a regular white or pastel kimono (kakeshita) and sash (obi). The uchikake is longer than an everyday kimono - about six feet long - and has a heavily padded hem so that it trails behind the bride as she walks.
Before [...]