The ultimate symbol of Japan, the kimono is often perceived as traditional, timeless and unchanging. Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk, the UK's first major exhibition on kimono, counters this conception, presenting the garment as a dynamic and constantly evolving icon of fashion.
[...] antique kimono are displayed for the first time on bespoke mannequins, showing off the rich fashion history of the garment in all its three-dimensional glory.
★★★★ From Jedi to John Galliano, a forensic history of a treasured garment.
The V&A's ambitious show [...] elegantly reveals the ways in which this apparently simple, apparently unchanging item of clothing has carried centuries of culture and imagination in the folds of its fabric.
[...] a timely reminder that there's more to a cultural exchange than just the West adopting from other cultures.
Sex and secrecy, politics and power, fashion and film, anxiety and influence: all can be traced through the kimono [...]
With over 315 works featured in the expertly curated experience, Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk is a must-see and is set to be one of the hottest exhibitions of the year.
