On & Off The Jobs Kimono Dress for the Career Ladies Produced by Yorozu International 1
Space Producer, Sanae Hiraoka Sanae Hiraoka Profile President of Sanae s Design In June, 2006, established Sanae s Design K.K. as a space producer and the president of the company. Organize seminars for the real estate agencies, interior coordinators, and landscape developers. Consulting services of office space planning for the corporate clients. Collaboration with house building companies, storage companies, and storage furniture companies to promote better space planning ideas. Product services for space planning suitable for each individual household based on the ladies point of view, master of the home living. In June, 2009, established the Japan Space Planning Foundation with a focus on human resource development of space planners. 2
Sanae on the Job Sanae s Policy as a Space Producer Japan is the prosperous country surrounded by the sea and mountains with the natural resources. However, population is higher than the size of the landscape, and large population is centralized to the city areas. Therefore, many Japanese houses are forced to minimize the size of their living spaces. Japanese life style is rich to enjoy with four seasons; but because of the variety of season changes, various outfits to adjust to the seasonal temperature are required. Also, Japanese life style is rich with the seasonal events from the new year to the year end rituals. Event goods to accommodate each seasonal event are required. 3
Sanae off the Job Sanae s Policy as a Space Producer Mottainai (Don t waste) spirit is the good part of the Japanese nationality. However, many times it is difficult to slough away the unnecessary things in the house. As the time goes by, now in Japan, price collapsing is happening and low priced products are popular with the public. So called fast fashion low-priced garments are in the market. As a result, full of unnecessary goods are in the household of each house without clearing the spaces in the house. I am helping these individuals who want to clear the spaces and realize their wish to live comfortably in the neat and clean spaces. I want my customers to think that they love their homes. My job is to create their lives enjoyable, by organizing people and their household products. My concept of the home design is to make the lady of the house smile. I would like to continue working on a space planning which makes people happy. 4
Japanese Peony Obi Dress Design Details Design Nishijin Ori Weaving Japanese Peony Design Obi: Nishijin derives from the regional history of the headquarter of the South Military Group of the Onin War. Nishijin weaving suppliers are spread in the north-west area of Kyoto, and developed in Kamigyo-ku, Kita-ku, towards Imaidegawa Street in the south and Kita-Ouji Street in the north, Horikawa Street in the east and Senbon Street in the west. Technical artisans revived the Nishijin Ori weaving adding the new techniques after the war. Those weavers were called Grand Toneri Group and became the special weavers for the Shogun Ashikaga Family, and the Nishijin brand was established. In the 18 th Century, foundation of the brocaded weaving and tapestry weaving was established. In the Meiji Era, jacguard weaving machines were installed through the dispatched artisans from Lyon, France. After 3 years, Araki Kohei established the Japanese style jacguard weaving called Nishijin. Nowadays, Nishijin weaving is the highest echelon of the Japanese weavings and the world-class technology. Style Beautiful Shoulder Line Dress is made of the Nishijin Obi: Day time dress is made of the peony design Nishijin obi stressing the shoulder line and the vertical line in the center part of the dress. Adjustable shawls are made of the Japanese obi with the peony design using the gold brocades. Removable long under skirt with rich gathers is made of silk chiffon fabrics. Italian leaf design silk chiffon is layered with the Japanese iridescent color silk chiffon fabric. Leaf pattern comes and goes by the move of the dress. It looks green and gold depend on the natural light and shadow to bring out the elegance of the lady wearing this dress. 5
Kimono Re-Born Producer, Yuko Murakami President of Yorozu International 2005: Graduated from Shimizu Toki Kimono Academy School learning the culture of the Japanese kimono. 2006: Authorized as a kimono consultant by the Japanese Association for the Japanese Kimono Promotion. 2007: Authorized as a Grand Master of Kimono Wearing approved by the Minister of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. 2007: Authorized as an Official Instructor for the Kimono Wearing by the Joint Association of Kimono Education. 2008: Authorized as a Graduate School Grand Master of Kimono Wearing approved by the Minister of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. 2011: Authorized as a Faculty of the Grand Master of Kimono Wearing approved by the Minister of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. 2012: Authorized as a 2 nd Technical Kimono Stylist approved by the Minister of the Health, Labor and Welfare. March, 2011: Appointed as the president of Yorozu International Co. Ltd. 6
Yuko s Policy as a Kimono Re-Born Producer Encounter with my mentor, Ms. Toki Shimizu, pioneer of the Japanese kimono culture, was the eye opening event of my life. She told me the story that after the World War II, school students sawed huge amount of men s shirts made of Japanese kimonos with the sponsorship of kimono wholesale dealers in Japan as a part of Japanese reconstruction project. Those shirts made of kimono fabric were sent to Hawaii to encourage many Japanese Americans in Hawaii who suffered a lot of difficulty during the war. These shirts were very well received and became the origin of Aloha shirts. This story is a good example of preserved Japanese tradition helps something to make yourself useful by adding human wisdom, and the achieved production creates a new culture. I noticed these products are not made by chance but by the necessity. My study of Japanese kimono culture were deepened and varied from variety of kimono dressing styles, obi tying techniques, Japanese silk cultivation, fabric dyeing with natural vegetation colors, and many more areas. Yuko on the Job 7
Yuko s Policy as a Kimono Re-Born Producer I had established my company, Yorozu International from the wish to preserve the traditional techniques and culture related to the kimono production process. I learned those precious techniques from the artisans and craftsmen of silk cultivation farms, smelting works, textile-dyeing, and weaving factories. I respect kimono, the home of eight million numen, and revive its eternal beauty by bringing it to a new life with re-born. Beauty of kimono does not fade away with ages. Kimono is the symbol of the Japanese eternal beauty. Historically in Japan, silk was valued as a fabric which is born from the heavenly silkworm. Linens are also used as a fabric to tribute to the gods. Kimono is made of these special fabrics. In addition to the superb fabric made out of the gift from the Nature, outstanding techniques and passion of traditional kimono artisans create extraordinary energy to the finished kimono. Therefore I call kimono a home of eight million numen with eternal beauty. Yuko off the Job 8
Red Plum Blossoms Dress Design Details Price: JPY 168,000.- Material: Silk 100% (Japanese Vintage Obi & Tsumugi Kimono) Technique: Embroidery Style High Waist and Bracelet Sleeve Dress: Plum blossoms embroidery obi is used in the top and sleeves of this daytime dress. From the neckline to the sleeves are naturally cut to make this dress comfortable to wear. Black plain obi is used at the high waist line as a charming accent of this dress. Same black plain obi is used at the cuffs of the sleeves and at the bottom of the skirt to make an unified image of this dress. Red Tsumugi weaving kimono is used for the skirt to make this dress more comfortable. This dress is made of two vintage fabrics advantages; bright and glamorous plum blossom embroidery obi and comfort of Tsumugi kimono fabric. This stress free dress is stylish and comfortable and suitable to anybody as a favorite fashion item. 9
Red Ocean Wave and Crane Evening Dress Design Details Price: JPY 400,000.- Material: Silk 100% (Japanese Vintage Wedding Silk Kimono) Technique: Embroidery and Brocade Design - Japanese Wedding Kimono (Uchikake): When the unit of design pattern is repeated, we call it Okkake. In this wedding kimono, squamo-lepidoses pattern is repeated and expressing ocean waves. Natural ocean wave motif is turned to the perfect geometric design and become a very popular universal design. This ocean wave design is called Seigaiha. This design motif originates in the Caspian Sea and finally reached Japan via West Region of China. In the Heian Era, Seigaiha design was used for the dancing costume of the Dance called Seigaiha. Ocean waves keep rolling and its power and stability is admired as a symbol of long life and lucky motif. This dancing act became the name of the design and established one of the Japanese traditional design patterns. Japanese cranes are often used for the Japanese wedding kimono as a lucky design motif. Style Rich Mermaid Line Dress: Bear top part is frilled and Swarovski rhinestones are hand-crafted to match variety of colors creating ocean wave designs on the top of vermilion red color. Top to the waist line is skinny and bottom line is rich mermaid with gathered bottom skirt. Uneven bottom skirt line is voluminous with the layered navy tulles to create the ocean wave images. 10
Special Thanks to The International House of Japan International House of Japan At Roppongi, Tokyo 5-11-16 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032 Japan Telephone: 81-3-3470-4461 11