We are running special offers on Kimonos and Haori jackets from Kyoto. It’s perfect timing as we will all soon be saying good bye to our Winter coats, and a Haori can make a wonderful silk jacket on top of a T-shirt and jeans. They are so easy to wear as well as being effortlessly elegant. All our Haori jackets are now 20% off normal price, so do take the chance to grab your favourite! Some of them are on line, but not all, so it’s best to come to the store to check them out if you can.
The Haori was originally worn by men in the late 15th century, and it is said that it originated as a ‘jinbaori’, worn over armour on the battlefield, which is where the name comes from. You can see some original Jinbaori in the Samurai exhibition that’s on at the British Museum at the moment. Although the Jinbaori has short sleeves, the normal Haori has long sleeves. Many men’s Haori have simple woven fabric on the outside, but with really striking linings. These are called ‘Uramasari’, which refers to the use of more expensive fabric for the lining, or to adding flashy patterns. It’s a secret way of enjoying luxury and style in places where others wouldn’t be able to see or find out.
Japanese women started to wear Haori in the Meiji era (1868–1912), and now Haori jackets are really popular. Many Japanese Kimono ladies like to wear Haori jackets, even when it’s warm, and they’ve become really cool fashion items. A simple black silk Haori, with some background pattern in black - quite often of flowers, birds or plants – is so easy to wear, and black can be very classy and chic, and a great choice if you are wearing a Haori for the first time.