KIMONO

11 h – Visit-conference at the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac with commentary by Julien Rousseau, curator of the Asia collections at the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac.

Emblematic clothing and characteristic of the identity of Japan, the kimono is today an essential piece of fashion. From samurai schools to catwalks, from kabuki actors to international pop stars, spotlight on an outfit that transcends categories and borders.

Appearing more than a thousand years ago, the kimono – literally “what is worn” – embodies in the eyes of the Japanese the national culture and sensibility. It was at the beginning of the Edo era (1603-1868) that it became the traditional dress par excellence, worn by all Japanese, regardless of their social status or gender. A golden age that saw the extraordinary development of its production and the birth of a fashion culture thanks to the enthusiasm of the entertainment world. Celebrities and elegant people of the time – kabuki actors in the lead – then becoming the first Japanese fashion icons.

The exhibition designed by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London looks back on this story, that of an emblematic outfit, intimately linked to that of Japan. The kimono from every angle, or the portrait of a resolutely modern garment, across centuries and continents.