*** Quoting Cindy Haglund from a message to Carol Shenkenberger ***

CH> Carol do you know much about the history of Kimono. I know about the


Not really although I'm aware of the wrapping style.

CH> the Kimono had to be taken apart (the lining removed and I don't know
CH> about what else), washed, laid flat to dry and then sewed back
CH> together. Those who could afford it had sewing girls, those who could
CH> not probably didn't change their Kimono often I imagine.  I was
CH> thinking gosh I wonder if they still have to do that? The women of the

Grin, I highly suspect the poor women didnt have the ones with raw silk
that ¨had to be treated that way, and so didnt need to take them apart then
sew them ¨back together.  At least, not common use ones.  Also, they
have/had other sty;e ¨outfits for working in the fields.  It's a loose
smock with simple drawstring ¨waist pants.

Many of the regular ones out here, are machine washable.  Those arent super
¨fancy ones, but suitable enough for special holiday use.  Quite a few are
just ¨simple printed cotton.  They scale upwards to 'use the drycleaners'
to the ¨wedding level ones that I am not sure are washable at all but would
probably ¨have to be taken apart as you say.

On a typical Japanese holiday, you will see a fair number of men and women
¨wearing traditional clothes (Kimono) with the wood bottomed 'sandals'
(socks ¨are worn with the sandals).  You'll also see a few with discrete
sneakers ¨(which gives me a giggle).  More often you see the women wearing
the kimono, ¨not so many men.  In fact, I don't recall seeing many men
doing it since the ¨Shimoda Japan Black Ship Festival visit I did back
around 2003.

I'm not sure if the men's version is called the same name, but to us, it
looks ¨simular though shorter and with pants underneath.  At least, thats
what I ¨recall.
                                       xxcarol

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