Hope you’ve been enjoying the fashion history! We’ve got some more for you. History for you this week starts in the East and ends with a little bit of what’s underneath. Don’t be scandalised! When you read, you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about in this week’s Fashionary.

Kimono:
Originating as the national dress of Japan and exported to the West, the kimono is one of the most recognised garments ever. It’s a T-shaped wrap garment which is often identified as a dress. The covering is made from differing strips of rectangular fabrics which are sewn together. In Japan, traditional kimonos are worn with a long, wide strip of fabric secured around the waist. The construction of traditional kimonos have very strict specifications for different occasions and come in differing motifs, fabrics or patterns. That’s right, there are different types of kimonos!
Here in Jamaica, the traditional kimono we know is called à ‘furisode’, but what we wear are more westernised versions which take their inspiration from the Japanese wear. For us, the kimono is a thin cardigan type of garment made from synthetic or natural fibres which feature vibrant colours and prints. We use them as cover-ups for swimwear, as robes, or even as wrap dresses.

Knife Pleat:
Yes, that’s right, another pleat! These pleats are found on certain uniforms and are sharp! Knife pleats are accordion-like folds which are generally uniform in size and wrap all the way around a skirt just like a box pleat would.

Lace:
No wedding fantasy would be complete without even a little bit of lace, even if it’s just the rough draft. Lace is à design in fabric dating back to around the 15th century and is created from fine materials such as silk or cotton. Lace was a signal of wealth back in those days and now can be found on almost any garment, even clubwear, but still denotes a bit of innocence in the wearer.
Lettuce Hem:
This wavy look was big in the ’90s and came back in a big way on off the shoulder blouses of the late 2010s. The hemline is made of elastic material so it has a bit of a stretch that can unfortunately get a bit stretched out.

Lining:
Most of your clothing, especially clothing with thinner materials, have lining. The lining acts as a layer of insulation or reinforcement for tailored pieces. Of course, due to our climate, we’re prone to cutting out the lining out of our pieces, but please refrain from doing that with all your pieces!

Story by Danik Frazer
danik.frazer@gleanerjm.com