STORIES 着物物語

This is the furisode is one of the special kimono which I wore for my Coming of Age Day. It is a soushibori fine tie-dyeing, kimono, that really takes a lot of effort to produce. My mother and aunt had discussed the making of it, but my mother just said the colour she wanted, and that she wanted tie-dyeing, and then left the rest upto my aunt to sort out with the kimono shop. My mother really trusted my aunt’s judgment in such matters.

On Coming of Age day I needed my aunt to dress me, so I went to her house in Kawasaki the day before and stayed the night. I had had my hair done and so I slept in the kotatsu (at a heated table), in order not to mess up my hair style. The next day I was dressed by my aunt in the early morning and then attended the Coming of Age ceremony. After that I went to a shrine to pray with my friends. I was so happy to be wearing the furisode, and for people to see me in it, that I wore it all day long. My aunt is really good at dressing so I didn’t feel tired or uncomfortable although I wore it all day long. I think this is an experience that influenced me, and made me like kimono.

この振袖は成人式に着た特別な着物です。総絞りの、非常に手の込んだ１枚です。母と伯母が相談して作ってくれたものですが、母は色の希望と「絞り」というリクエストだけを伯母に伝え、そのあとの細かい呉服やさんとの打ち合わせはすべて伯母がしてくれたそうです。母はそれだけ伯母に全幅の信頼を寄せていたのだと思います。

伯母に振袖を着せてもらうため、成人式の前日、川崎の伯母に家に泊まりに行きました。せっかく結ってもらった髪を崩さないよう、こたつで眠り、次の日の朝早く着せてもらいました。式の後、友達と神社にお参りに行きました。着物が着られて嬉しかったし、見てもらえるのも嬉しかったので一日中着ていました。伯母の着付けはとても上手で、着ていても全く苦しくなく、楽だったのも着物が好きでいられた理由だと思います。