How much of the world has shifted since you first discovered the pieces currently hanging in your closet? Our lives move in unexpected directions, and the things we choose to wear over the years naturally absorb those transitions. When you pull an older piece of clothing from the back of your wardrobe, you’re not just choosing fabric or design. You’re choosing an item imbued with where you bought it, where you wore it, and how you felt each time you slipped into it.
That intrinsic connection between clothing and memory is something our team has incorporated into our collections from the beginning. When our co-founders, sisters Renee and Tiffany Tam, launched our brand in San Francisco, they designed our earliest silk collections during a time of immense growth and change for our family business. They drew upon their childhood memories in Chinatown, and their experiences visiting the Silk Villages of China to see talented artisans craft traditional kimono. Today, as we prepare to retire those original hand-painted designs and look toward our future, reflecting on the evolution of a kimono robe reveals how these garments continually evolve to support the individuals who wear them through every season of life.
From Online Origins to Building a San Francisco Sanctuary
The story of our retiring Handpainted Silk Collection is deeply intertwined with the story of our brand's most significant period of growth. When Renee and Tiffany first sketched these intricate botanical motifs, our business was known as Old Shanghai Online, operating entirely in the digital space. The designs were created with the clear intention of bringing genuine, artisanal luxury directly into the homes of women across the country, many of whom were searching for a silk robe that felt truly personal rather than mass-produced.
As these handpainted pieces began finding their way into customers' daily routines, the brand itself was physically expanding. The launch of these soon-to-be retired designs coincided with our monumental decision to rebrand to KIM+ONO and open our flagship retail store in San Francisco's Chinatown in 2018. Returning to the neighborhood where our parents had run their own boutique for decades felt like coming home. These original silk designs were the very first pieces to hang in our new physical sanctuary, marking the exact moment we transitioned from an online-only storefront to a tangible, in-person community space designed for connection.
Navigating Global Shifts and Seeking Comfort at Home
The true test of a garment's versatility often comes during periods of unexpected disruption. When the global landscape shifted dramatically in 2020, the way women engaged with their wardrobes changed entirely. Traditional office wear was suddenly replaced by a desperate need for comfort, ease, and a sense of calm within the home space.
During that intense period of collective stress and isolation, our community turned to our collections to create small pockets of peace in their daily routines. The role of ladies silk robes transformed from a simple luxurious layer into a necessary tool for daily self-care and mental grounding. Wearing a beautifully crafted piece became a way to differentiate the start of a busy workday from a relaxing evening, even when both occurred in the exact same room. The resilience of these original designs proved that true everyday luxury is not about dressing up for others, but about prioritizing your own comfort and mental well-being during challenging seasons.
Expanding Our Embrace with Inclusive Sizing Options
As our community grew and shared their stories with us over the years, we recognized the profound importance of making our wearable art accessible to more women. The evolution of our collections has always been driven by the direct feedback of the individuals who wear them every single day. We understood that if our goal was to support individuals through every chapter of their lives, our sizing options needed to reflect the beautiful diversity of our customer base.
The introduction of our Curve Collection was a direct response to that need, ensuring that the elegance of our classic T-shape silhouette was available in a broader range of fits. By offering a beautifully draped plus size duster kimono robe, we expanded our embrace, allowing more women to experience the grounding comfort of our heritage designs. This expansion was a critical milestone in our brand's journey, reinforcing our core belief that every person deserves to feel wrapped in intention and care, regardless of what’s going on in their life.
Photo by @storyboxart
Fostering Connection Through In-Person Community Events
Today, as we prepare to archive the original handpainted designs that helped build our foundation, we are looking forward to how our community continues to evolve in person. The San Francisco flagship store has transformed from a simple retail space into a vibrant hub for connection, collaboration, and shared stories among women who value intentional living.
We are actively building our in-person community through engaging pop-up events and meaningful in-store partnerships with local creatives, makers, and practitioners. These gatherings offer a welcoming space for folks to connect over shared experiences, try on our latest collections, and learn more about the intricate craftsmanship behind our designs directly from our team. Whether you are searching for the best robe to update your morning routine or simply looking to connect with a supportive community, our doors are always open. The transition of our brand from a digital storefront to a thriving physical community reflects the deep, ongoing relationship we have with the beautiful individuals who wear our pieces out in the world.
Evolving Designs for a Life Focused on Intentional Care
The evolution of a kimono robe is ultimately an illustration of how we choose to care for ourselves amidst shifting schedules and responsibilities. The pieces we design today continue to draw on our family heritage and vintage Asian art, but they are also deeply influenced by the modern desire for calm, ease, and intentionality at home.
As we retire our earliest Heritage Handpainted Silk Collection, we are making space for new designs that reflect this ongoing commitment to your wellbeing and self-expression. Whether you are slipping into a vintage handpainted piece from years ago or wrapping yourself in our newest washable silk, the intention remains exactly the same. We create these garments so you can wrap yourself in wearable works of art all day long, allowing the feeling of self care to support the beautiful life you are actively building for yourself.
