Visiting Kien - 季縁

Kyoto is a very special place for me. After spending some good amount of time living here during the pandemic, I am starting to understand why this city is so special and brings people back to visit over and over. Many think it is a city full of temples and shrines, and where Geisha ladies walking around elegantly in beautiful garments. It is partially true, yet there are many faces and layers to this mesmerising city. The traditional Japanese culture is still protected and preserved, but at the same time peoples’ minds are progressive and they love new things. I hope that I can share what I have been experiencing in this city through my blog along with my musical works.

For my November 1st concert, I was looking for a unique dress for a very special location. It isn’t just any temple that I am performing in this time, but a temple that has been standing for more than 1200 years, and regarded as a national treasure of Japan.

Then one day, I came across a Kyoto based brand, where Kimono meets Western Fashion.

Kien - 季縁 : Website https://kimonokien.jp/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kimonokien/ Instagram @kimonokien

I was soon taken away by their beautiful website and their stylish dresses. They have been around for about two years in business and they remake Western style dresses out of Japanese Kimono. They have many customers worldwide and apparently, they had many UAE customers as the elegant design really matched their garments.

Their showroom is located right by Nijo-castle, little north-west from the city-center (Shijo-Kawaramachi) in a rustic neighborhood where the old Machiya-style homes are still standing. As I entered their studio, I was welcomed with a warm greeting and taken to upstairs where they had their showroom. They had very few windows but the lighting and the washi wallpaper which was hand-made and fixed by a local artist gave a cozy feeling to the room.

I tried on several dresses. All of them unique and exactly something that I was looking for. All the kimono they used are made out of high quality silk and the texture was very nice. Since it is a delicate fabric, it must be dry-cleaned with special care. In Japan, most dry cleaners would know what to do when a customer brings a kimono or its fabric to their stores. In overseas, taking these dresses to dry cleaners who have experience handling high-end brand is highly recommended; otherwise, fabric may come back damaged and will be unwearable.

I picked out one of them and they said they will ship it to me in the next few days after fixing some parts that needs final touch.
HOW EXCITING!
Which dresses do you think I chose out of the five that I have posted below?
I look forward to disclosing on the day of the concert!