History of the Haori

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History of the Haori

Ember defines the haori as an outer garment worn by men and women over the kimono (2005). It is light and can be hip or thigh-length. The purpose of wearing a haori is for warmth and to add formality to the outfit. However, there are different kinds of haori for casual and formal purposes. Articles of clothing worn as haori have been worn in Japan since the period of Muromachi. This paper shall discuss the history of the haori and the various kinds of classes that wear different haori.

History

Haori has been worn ever since the Azuchi-Momooyama period, that is 1558 to 1600 CE. Warriors wore battle coats known as jinbaori over their armor for warmth. Soon after, they became daily wear. One such example is the kamishimo, which is worn for casual occasions (Ember, 2005). Non-samurai also have their version of the haori, which is the hakama, which is paired with a montsuki haori. It is a formal outfit, just like the kamishimo. In Japan today, monstuki haori hakama is the most formal outfit for men, asserts Ember (2005).

Types of Haori

There are different kinds of haori. The differences depict sex, occasion, and social class in the society, according to Ember (2005).

Mens haori: Its exterior has a single, dull color. The lining is very colorful with images and designs. It is worn for all kinds of formalities of kimono, with the exception of burial kimono and yukata.

Jittoku: It is a men’s outfit. Jittoku is made of unlined silk gauze irrespective of the season. Its lining is sewn of the same fabric as the main garment. Jittoku is entirely open at the wrist side, unlike the haori and kimono. Jittoku is worn by male tea ceremony practitioners who have attained high ranks.

Women’s haori: This is made of a single color and may have partial designs. During the Edo perios, women did not wear haori. During the period, uchikake was the outerwear oufit for women, which is still worn today during traditional wedding ceremonies. Even today, a haori is still unconsidered as a women’s attire.

Furisode haori: It is worn by young unmarried women.

Work Cited

Ember, Stefano. Fashioning kimono: dress and modernity in early twentieth-century Japan. 5 Continents Editions, 2005.