Naturally, the upper class was thought to deserve more protection than the lower classes who performed manual labor. In addition to signaling social status and granting privacy in public, clothing protected from the evil spirits common in the Shinto religion. This idea of hiding the body eventually began to take on a religious significance as well. This provided them with privacy and safety from the speculative looks of others, whether the lower classes or rivals within their own class. This especially applied to women who draped themselves in long, flowing kimono robes that covered them from shoulder to toe and usually had sleeves that would reach past the fingertips. Specifically, the more of your body that you covered, the higher your status. It was during the Nara Period that dress began to reflect class and social status. Perhaps most significantly, Japan began trading extensively with China, which brought with it high culture and fashion. The Emperor moved the capital to Nara, and the country expanded culturally and socially. What we in the West usually think of as traditional Japanese culture developed in the Nara Period, beginning around 710 AD. It was around the end of the Jomon Period as it transitioned into the Kofun Period that the kimono, perhaps the most famous item of Japanese clothing, was born. Agriculture gave them civilization and more time to focus on culture. Toward the end of this period, their clothing became more elaborate. It was sometime in the Jomon period, before Japanese civilization had really even developed.ĭuring this time, the Japanese were still a loose collection of hunter-gatherer tribes slowly transitioning to sedentary agriculture. This is certainly the case with clothing. Origins - Jomon Period (300 BC)Īn amazing thing about Japan is that many of its cultural foundations can be traced back millennia. Take a look at Japanese clothing through the ages to see what has changed since the ancient beginnings of the nation-and what’s stayed the same. Both the past and present of Japanese fashion tell the story of a society with deeply rooted traditions that nevertheless continues to innovate, create and lead the world. The rich culture of Japan is woven into their clothing. Everyone has heard of the kimono, probably even seen one, but do you know where they come from? Did you know they come in dozens of different styles and can have up to 12 pieces?
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