This Reversible Sukajan Kimono by Tailor Toyo & Yamato Lab Bridges Japan’s Modern & Ancient Aesthetics

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Yamato, a longstanding provider of historic kimonos, is working with their Yamato Lab team and Tailor Toyo manufacturers to redesign an old souvenir jacket concept as traditional clothing. As multi-generational companies focusing on cultural attire, the collaboration between this kimono vendor and the sukajan manufacturer showcases Japan’s adaptable artistic flair and deep connection to its ancient past.

Yamato, established in 1917, has been crafting traditional kimonos in Koishikawa, Tokyo, since then, expanding significantly throughout the 20th century. Yet, the origins of this garment can be traced back to the Heian period (794-1192 AD). Over time, the design and ornamentation of these kimonos evolved, offering a platform for stunning designs and symbolic motifs. These artistic themes have influenced the embroideries seen on contemporary souvenir or “sukajan” jackets, which were pioneered by Tailor Toyo‘s predecessor, Kosho, in the 1940s. The concept was to adapt a jacket style popular among Americans, the varsity jacket, and infuse it with Japanese aesthetics through cultural motifs. This unique style gained popularity among American soldiers stationed in the Pacific and eventually found its way into vintage shops across the globe.

This unique hybrid kimono-sukaju jacket adopts the overall form of a traditional kimono while incorporating the structure of a sukaju jacket, sourced from carefully chosen vintage pieces in Tailor Toyo’s collection. The green exterior showcases intricate embroidery depicting an authentic landscape featuring distant mountains, while flipping it inside out reveals a golden embroidery of a legendary dragon on the back and a tiger on the front, both crafted on black fabric. The design maintains the iconic satin acetate material, lending the jackets a distinctive silky shimmer. Reminiscent of jackets from the early 1950s, topal piping adorns the sleeves in black and gold, echoing the color scheme found on the ribbed cuffs.

See detailed images in the gallery above.

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2025-04-13 20:55