This kimono exemplifies the bold experimentation with color and pattern that characterized Japanese textile design during the Taisho era, when traditional striped motifs were reimagined with unprecedented vibrancy and daring. The garment features a sophisticated vertical stripe composition in deep burgundy, emerald green, and cream that demonstrates the period's embrace of more adventurous color palettes compared to earlier centuries. This chromatic boldness reflects Japan's increasing exposure to Western fashion sensibilities and synthetic dyes, while maintaining the fundamental geometric structure that had been a staple of Japanese striped textiles for generations.

The color combination itself suggests influences from contemporary international design movements, particularly the rich jewel tones favored in Art Nouveau and early Art Deco aesthetics that were gaining global prominence during this period. The deep wine red anchors the design with aristocratic gravitas, while the vibrant green creates dynamic visual tension and the cream stripes provide rhythmic breathing space. This triadic harmony demonstrates sophisticated color theory that goes beyond traditional Japanese textile palettes, indicating the wearer's cosmopolitan taste and social positioning during Japan's rapid modernization.

While striped kimono had indeed been worn in Japan for centuries, typically in more subdued color schemes reflecting sumptuary laws and conservative aesthetic preferences, this example represents the liberation from those constraints that occurred during the Taisho period. The bold vertical lines create an almost architectural quality that mirrors the era's fascination with modern urban environments and industrial aesthetics.

Its inner upper lining, crafted from hand-spun and woven silk, adds to its quality. The measurements span 48 inches (122 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and stand at 59 inches (150 cm) in height.

This artwork is featured on page 125 of Art Kimono: Aesthetic Revelations of Japan, 1905-1960. This book, published by Yorke Antique Textiles, can be previewed or purchased on our website here.

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