Yamato Lab and Tailor Toyo Team Up to Create Hybrid Sukaju Kimono
In a fusion of traditional and modern Japanese fashion, historic kimono purveyor Yamato has joined forces with the manufacturers at Tailor Toyo to reinterpret its vintage souvenir jacket design into a unique form of traditional garb.
With both companies boasting a rich history in cultural garments, this collaboration represents the resilient creative spirit of Japan and its deep roots in ancient heritage.
The Evolution of the Kimono
Founded in 1917, Yamato has been producing traditional kimonos in Koishikawa, Tokyo for over a century. However, the garment’s origins can be traced back even further to the Heian period (794-1192 AD).
Over time, the kimono has evolved in both construction and design, becoming a canvas for vibrant patterns and symbolic motifs. These artistic themes have also inspired the embroideries found on modern souvenir jackets, which were first introduced by Tailor Toyo’s predecessor, Kosho, in the 1940s.
The concept behind these jackets was to combine the familiar silhouette of a varsity style jacket with Japanese cultural motifs, making them popular among American soldiers stationed in the Pacific. Today, vintage sukajan jackets can be found in shops all around the world.
The Sukaju Kimono: A Unique Hybrid
The hybrid sukaju kimono takes the general shape of a traditional kimono and combines it with the construction of a sukajan jacket. The design was carefully selected from vintage sukajans in Tailor Toyo’s archive, with the green side featuring a traditional architectural landscape with a mountain in the distance.
When turned inside out, the black side reveals a golden embroidery of a mythical dragon on the back and a tiger on the front. The jackets are made with the signature sateen acetate fabric, giving them a recognizable silky sheen. The topal piping on the sleeves follows the black and gold color scheme found on the ribbed hems, reminiscent of jackets from the early 1950s.
For a closer look at this unique collaboration, check out the detailed images in the gallery above.
