A real silk kimono can last 100 years or more. Many families keep it like a family treasure and give it down to the next generations. The basic style of the kimono and the “obi (sash)” has almost not changed since Edo period.

Since now kimonos are often used only for special events like weddings, some people want to give them new life. Recycling centers in Japan receive many old kimonos from family closets in Japan. Some services take kimonos apart and make them into modern clothes and accessories like jackets, dresses, pants, tote bags, or dolls.

Sumie Kaneko is a singer who plays the traditional Japanese instruments “koto” and “shamisen”. She often wears bright dresses made from old kimonos for her performance. She says, “Those patterns and colors that were once loved can come back to life.”