Kimono exhibition

What a lovely day I’ve had. Ailie and I got the train from Alnmouth to Dundee. We had a walk along the Tay, then got our 2pm slot for the kimono exhibition at the V&A. We were blown away by the curation as well as the exquisite work of kimonos from the Edo period to the present.

Ailie did textiles at uni and I was taught to embroider by my mother so we were both interested in the stitching and art work on the older kimonos in particular.

Some of the older ones from 1680 were Free hand paste-resist dyeing, embroidery in silk and gold-wrapped silk threads. Others were Figured satin-silk, hand-painted in ink, stencil-imitation tie-dyeing, embroidery in silk and gold-wrapped silk threads. We also saw the wonderful obis, that wrapped round the middle.

Later when trading was opened up with the Dutch, material from India was used. We also saw modern outfits designed by people like Galliano and a couple of beautifully worked ones owned by Mick Jagger. One was early 20th century one owned by L’Wren Scott and beside it a trouser suit and tailcoat designed by her for her 2014 collection and inspired by the one she owned.

We went to the Wine Press for a delicious little supper and a glass of wine before the train home.