During the holiday season, we know as well as anyone else that it’s easy to get caught up in over-consumption of cheaply made single-use products. The environmental impact of the holidays can be extreme. When these single-use, high energy consumption products are made, packaged, shipped, and used, they take a toll on mother nature and are unsustainable in the fight against climate change. That’s why, at KIM+ONO, we make our charmeuse and silk robes to be worn for a lifetime and we are making all of our production practices more sustainable every day.
Nature has always inspired the designs of our ladies dusters, so protecting that inspiration is central to our mission to bring more beauty into the world. That’s why we’ve created an easy to love, quality, handcrafted slow fashion item in each and every silk robe. And this is why they make the perfect holiday gifts. You can give your loved ones modern pieces that take inspiration from Japanese robes, nature, and vintage Asian art, all while being sure your purchase can be worn over and over again with sustainable packaging and practices. Here is what makes these men’s and ladies’ kimono dusters a perfect, high quality, holiday fashion gift for everyone on your list.
When we first discovered how to make a kimono, we realized that versatility was an important part of the design. If versatility was part of the style, we know each of these charmeuse and silk robes would be woven into your everyday. You can wear these pieces at home to lounge in and get ready for a big night out. Or they can be a bridal kimono robe you wear on your big day and take with you on your honeymoon. And of course they can simply be a lightweight layer to wear as a jacket on a special date night with your sweetheart. No matter how you wear it — from running errands to running a bath — the versatility of these kimono dusters makes them an essential part of your every day.
We all know the perils of fast fashion by this point. It’s tempting to buy inexpensive, but cheaply made pieces, but they end up costing more in the long run. The reason fast fashion is inexpensive is because it is low quality materials and structure, which cause you to buy more items over and over again. Conversely, our silk robes are inspired by traditional Japanese robes, and meant to be modern day heirlooms you bring into your own family traditions. The quality of an heirloom is in the handcrafted details. Many folks don’t know how to make a kimono robe like you’ll find in our collection. It takes handcrafting by talented artisans in every stitch and every stroke of color. The delicate materials of each of our charmeuse and silk robes will make you feel confident in their quality because they have been crafted with attention and care, making them living heirlooms.
Our kimonos are designed in San Francisco. They are inspired by vintage Asian art and the timeless beauty of botanicals. We work to highlight trending seasonal colors and choose palettes that compliment various skin tones and complexions. Each design is sketched by hand and some of our production processes can take up to seven days to complete one kimono robe from start to finish. That’s why there is a story behind every charmeuse and silk robe. We don’t simply mass produce as many pieces as possible. We are intentional and thoughtful about how many ladies dusters we craft because each one is put together by hand like a work of art. It’s these kinds of stories behind holidays gifts that make them extra special to the person receiving them.
When we started designing our modern charmeuse and silk robes, we knew that each one would need to be handcrafted with our families' heritage. The history, technique, and production process behind each of these silk robes makes them a truly one of a kind piece. And the handcrafted process is nothing without the talented artisans crafting each kimono duster with their own hands. Each piece is handcrafted with heritage by a team who has been partnering with our own family for decades. We (Renee and Tiffany) design these beauties in San Francisco. Every kimono is a completely original piece of art - every petal and detail on our hand-painted kimono robes are first sketched by hand, then saturated in rich watercolors using a traditional paintbrush. It takes about seven days to make just one of these silk robes. You can feel the heart and energy put into each piece when you wear it.
From silk to charmeuse to silk twill, one guiding principle for how to make a kimono robe is to source and weave the finest materials. Each fabric requires its own process and handling; handlooms, handicraft looms and power looms are all used in the manufacturing process. The team of textile innovators take great pride in producing a wide variety of high quality fabrics that are hand selected for our charmeuse and silk robe production. Inspired by Japanese robes, our kimono robes are sewn into a “T” shape from four single pieces of fabric, and then tied with an obi (or belt). Minimizing fabric waste and creating a garment that fits most shapes, these robes are luxurious to the touch, constructed with care and precision, and infinitely adaptable. Our pieces are meant to be worn for years, or even decades, to come. We pride ourselves on delivering the best product we can, no silk robe is complete without a full inspection.
When you are shopping for loved ones this holiday season, consider the intention put into each and every item you purchase. It’s easy to bring sustainability, heritage, and craftsmanship into a perfect holiday gift when you pick out a silk robe for the ones you love. So this season when you can choose anything, choose a gift that speaks to the luxury and quality your loved ones deserve. They’ll thank you for years to come.
