A moment with Kimono Reincarnate

Where does the name come from?

The name Kimono Reincarnate actually came a while before the business. I had started collecting vintage kimono and obi textiles
with the intent of making bags and jewellery from them, but was still too scared to cut into these gorgeous fabrics. I was thinking about how I wanted to give a new life to these fabrics, and the name Kimono Reincarnate was born. I registered the name first, knowing I wanted to use in the future, then came the blog and then later the business.

Tell us about your past

What now feels like a few lifetimes ago, I used to be a professional photographer. When the analogue world of photography first starting
moving towards digital it was a huge investment to make the switch. I wanted to take a break, travel and think about what I wanted in life. I soon found myself in Japan and loving it. I had planned to stay there for a year, but that stint soon turned to three years. I had fallen in love with the culture, the food, the people, the papers, the fabrics, the sense of design. I did come home to Australia for four years but then moved back with my then new husband for another three years. It was the second time living in Japan that I really learnt about the vintage textiles, started sewing with them and entered the fabulous world of blogging.

anything new you’re working on at the moment?

Yes! And I’m very excited about them! One of the new ranges that I’m just releasing now is part of a “Cities of Japan” series. The first city I’ve worked on is Kyoto – such a gorgeous traditional city, the one where we chose to spend our honeymoon. Inspired by the bamboo grooves, tea houses and geisha, it’s a range of brooches and brooch/pendants. They are made with hand-coloured, laser-cut bamboo and vintage kimono fabrics. In the range so far are kokeshi dolls, butterflies, origami cranes, teapots and what I call my “Zen Garden”. The Zen Garden was inspired by the round windows looking out onto the gardens of tea houses that I visited in Kyoto. The next two cities to come are Tokyo; inspired by cosplay and crazy fashions from the streets of Harajuku, and Osaka; which will have a real modern, technological edge to it.

Another range I’m working on is my “Kimono Inspired” pieces. These are digital images I’ve created and will be embedded in resin and encased in silver.

And other exciting news… my husband is also designing a men’s range for the collection. I just need to give him a break from looking after our one year old (he’s the stay-at-home-dad), working on my website and accounts, so that can can start creating some of his new pieces!

highlights for your little business?

Well those firsts are always such a rush aren’t they! The first sale, the first stockist, the first time you run into a complete stranger on the street wearing one of your pieces… and recently, the great reception I had at my first trade fair! The Kimono Reincarnate range has now gone national! But I think for me (and sorry this is going to sound sappy), the highlight has been coming back to Australia to find such a fabulous and supportive crafting business community and the resurgence in people wanting handcrafted pieces. Without that, Kimono Reincarnate wouldn’t be where it is today!