Antique Kimonos Elegantly Transformed into Contemporary Wedding Dresses

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Thanks to a recent wedding dress trend in Japan, the classic kimono is currently undergoing a modern makeover. Today, brides-to-be often opt to transform their furisode—or “swinging sleeves”— kimonos into avant-garde gowns that combine a traditional aesthetic with a contemporary silhouette. Watabe Wedding, a Kyoto-based brand, has helped pioneer and popularize this trend with their line of for-rent kimono wedding dresses.

Called Shoen, this colorful collection features strapless dresses made out of authentic and antique furisode kimonos. The Shoen line features 5 distinctive dresses: The Tsurumomiji (“crane maple”), The Fujiageha (“wisteria and swallowtail butterfly”), The Ranbu (“orchid dance”), The Kanazuru (“gold crane”), and The Botangiku (“peony and chrysanthemum”).

The Tsurumomiji is an a-line red gown adorned with flying cranes and autumnal imagery, including chrysanthemums and bamboo and maple trees. The Fujiageha is an empire-waist dress elegantly embroidered with swallowtail butterflies and wisteria flowers. Pretty in purple, The Ranbu features a trumpet silhouette and pictures of pink Phalaenopsis orchids—a flower that symbolizes love. The Kanazuru is a radiant red gown embellished with glistening gold cranes and black chiffon accents. And, lastly, The Botangiku is a pale pink dress delicately decorated with a variety of blooms, including peonies and chrysanthemums.

The Shoen line launched last year, but it is not until recently that Watabe Wedding decided to offer its gowns to the public for rent. If you're interested in donning one of these modern-yet-traditional wedding dresses, visit the Watabe Wedding website.

Watabe Wedding has created Shoen, a colorful collection of kimono wedding dresses. Each wedding kimono is upcycled from a traditional furisode garment. The line features 5 gowns:

The Tsurumomiji

Modern Kimono Dress Kimono Wedding Dress Kimono Wedding Dresses Wedding Kimono

The Fujiageha

Modern Kimono Dress Kimono Wedding Dress Kimono Wedding Dresses Wedding Kimono

The Ranbu

Modern Kimono Dress Kimono Wedding Dress Kimono Wedding Dresses Wedding Kimono

The Kanazuru

Modern Kimono Dress Kimono Wedding Dress Kimono Wedding Dresses Wedding Kimono

The Botangiku

Modern Kimono Dress Kimono Wedding Dress Kimono Wedding Dresses Wedding Kimono

Watabe Wedding: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
h/t: [Sora News 24, PR Times]

All images via Watabe Wedding.

Related Articles:

Brides in Japan are Turning Their Long-Sleeve Kimonos Into Stunning Wedding Dresses

Japanese Street Photography Highlights the Nation's Rich Culture

20+ Traditional Wedding Outfits from Around the World

Kelly Richman-Abdou

Kelly Richman-Abdou is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. An art historian living in Paris, Kelly was born and raised in San Francisco and holds a BA in Art History from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University. When she’s not writing, you can find Kelly wandering around Paris, whether she’s leading a tour (as a guide, she has been interviewed by BBC World News America and France 24) or simply taking a stroll with her husband and two tiny daughters.
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