I have an old haori jacket hanging on my dress form. This lovely piece has been there for quite a while now, its beautiful print showcasing a bright spring color palette tempered by a plain jacquard weave silk lining. Its distinct woody smell, retained from the antique dresser it was stored in, reminds me of my grandmother.
The jacket is so beautiful that it is a shame to keep it folded up and stored away. However, it isn’t something I would wear. So for weeks, I have been thinking about how to remake it, but haven’t made much progress.
The problem? I can’t get myself to take it apart! It is hand sewn so the stitches could be easily removed. The resulting fabric would be in rectangles, which means a lot of options for remaking it into something new.
But it belonged to my grandmother. And there is something about that fact that prevents me from picking up my seam ripper and deconstructing this beautiful garment.
What is a Haori?
A haori is a traditional Japanese jacket that is meant to be worn over a kimono. It looks like a short kimono with a similar collar and sleeves, but has a simple loop and tie closure in the front that gives it a looser fit. Its length ranges from mid-calf to mid-thigh and can be made from silk, cotton, or synthetics.
Historically, haori were worn by men from the warrior and wealthy merchant classes. In the 1800s, trendsetting geisha began to wear haori over their kimono, and by the 1930s, the haori became a popular garment for women as outerwear.
Image from here
Image from here
Clothing and Heritage
While I don’t remember my grandmother wearing this haori, she was a talented shamisen musician and actively participated in a local group, so perhaps she wore this over her performance kimono before and after the shows. While I will never know the details, I think of her when I see this, which is why I think it is so difficult for me to take it apart.
Even though my intent is to create something new that honors the original, taking that first step remains an obstacle. I know I’ll get there — and you’ll soon see a post that shows all of the deconstructed pieces. I just need to take that seam ripper in hand and just get going!
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