A White Cotton Hinagata: Tiny Practice Kimono

ca. mid twentieth century
17 1/4" x 16", 43.5 cm x 40.5 cm

This is a tiny, cotton kimono, extremely charming and well-made.  It looks like it was made to fit a doll, when in fact it was hand stitched in order to learn how a full-sized kimono is constructed.

It is composed of a white cotton exterior and a half-lining of lilac colored cotton; the hand work is precise and very clean.

The little garment has been cellared for decades, as can be sen by the ingrained dirt which is obvious along the top and sides of the hinagata and throughout selected zones on the body, notably on the sleeve areas.  This kind of soiling is in keeping with its age, but please note that it is obvious when looking at this little kimono.

A super charming little piece of old Japan, this hinagata gives us a glimpse into the everyday skills that a girl needed to learn during a time when women hand stitched their own kimono.

Delightful.