The effect of flowers cannot be overstated. Add some to your kitchen table, and you’ll instantly feel better. Take a walk in a blooming garden, and let your worries fall away. There’s just something utterly delightful about the look, the scent, and the ephemerality of flowers. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The earth laughs in flowers,” and we couldn’t agree more.
So when we began designing our kimonos, which we do here in San Francisco, we knew that floral print kimono robes were going to be a huge part of our aesthetic. Drawing on Asian vintage art and the beauty of the natural world, we worked to bring these floral creations to life on every kimono sleeve. But the beauty of flowers doesn’t stop at just their looks. They’re so much more than that! The real flower power comes from the symbolism and meaning behind each bloom. So you know that when you don your flower kimono, you’re wearing a beautiful symbol, full of meaning. Here are three of our favorite blooms and the meaning (and kimonos!) with which they’re paired.
The cherry blossom is a classic bloom in Asian vintage art, and for good reason. According to Homaro Cantu in The Huffington Post, “The significance of the cherry blossom tree in Japanese culture goes back hundreds of years. In their country, the cherry blossom represents the fragility and the beauty of life. It’s a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful but that it is also tragically short.” We love the delicate design of the cherry blossom on a dancing floor length kimono robe. The look and sway of our Handpainted Cherry Blossom Kimono Robe is the pinnacle of every kimono collection, with effortless elegance the whimsy of these fleeting, gorgeous blossoms.
Chrysanthemums are some of the most beloved blooms in nature. With their playful, round shape, they fill out every bouquet (and kimono sleeve!) beautifully. Although the flower originated in China, it made its way over to Japan and was so beloved that the flower was used on the emperor’s crest and seal. It’s long heritage plays into the chrysanthemum’s (or kiku’s, the Japanese word for the flower) meaning. It symbolizes longevity, good luck and powerful energy. We love the way the subtle petals stand out on a floral kimono cardigan. You can be dressed in simple t-shirt and jeans, and one addition of the Coral Chrysanthemum Kimono Robe instantly makes a statement — and gives you a bit of good luck!
It’s so hard to choose a favorite flower, but if we had to, peonies would be at the top of our list. The Chinese word for peony means beautiful, and that makes this bloom perfect for a flower kimono you can feel gorgeous wearing. It symbolizes riches, prosperity and honor — all thing we wish for our community to feel and receive every day. This gorgeous symbol is a beautiful piece of artwork on the back of our Peony & Bird Kimono Robe.
No matter which floral print kimono robe you try on, we hope you feel the beautiful, traditional meanings behind each flower we’ve chosen. And we hope your kimono serves as a reminder of your own strength and beauty, both inside and out.
