Takenaka

I've been trying to make a picture catalogue of my kimono collection for insurance and organization needs, and I thought I might put it up here for everyone's amusement (and in case my other copies of it get lost).

This is a mid-late Meiji period matched kimono and donuki, or a matched set from the 1890-1900s. During this time period, kimono were not worn singularly, they were worn in sets. Most women dressed in at least two kimono, but sets often came in threes. A very formal, high-class set would be for a black-crested furisode or kurotomesode in which under it would be worn a red kimono and a white kimono that matched it every detail. I can't afford one of those sets (which saddens me), but these less formal sets do occasionally make their way into my price range. The kimono with the red body is called a donuki and is a kimono worn specifically as an underlayer. As such, it's body is made of cheaper or spare fabric (this one's body is made with cotton).

For a name, I decided that I would choose a name that covered both of them rather than coordinating two names together, since these two were never meant to be parted (and thus constituted one ensemble). So, I chose Takenaka, combining the kanji for bamboo and relationship.