The Kimono Project was an initiative by the Imagine One World Organization in honor of the 2020 Olympics in Japan. It was launched in 2014.[1][2] The project started in 2017 and was completed in 2021.[3]
Background
The Project commissioned 213 kimono representing each of the countries participating in the Olympic Games.[4] The project was led by Yoshimasa Takakura, a Japanese designer.[5]
The production of each kimono was estimated to cost 2 million yen, and was covered by donations from crowdsourcing campaigns as well as corporate sponsorship.[6][7] The kimono were displayed at the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan, and will be displayed at the 2025 Osaka and Kansai Expo.[8] The kimono are also displayed online.[9][10]
Though most of the kimono were made by Japanese designers, two were not: the obi for the Palestinian kimono was created by refugees, using embroidery as the primary technique. The kimono designed for Indonesia was made using wax, using the batik technique.[11]
Recognition
The Project was awarded the Diplomas of Honor from the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports in Ukraine.[12]
Finished kimono
The pictures of finished kimono for all countries can be found on the official kimono project site.[13][14]