Alessandra Zecchini: Kimono Tango

Showing posts with label Kimono Tango. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

And the winner of the Kimono Tango bag is...

Thank you all for entering the Kimono Tango's competition. The winner was selected using Random.org.

Congratulations Martina!

And if you like to find out more about this beautiful and unique brand please check out their Facebook Page.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Kimono Tango and a Giveaway!

A while ago my friend Chizuko made me with these beautiful cushions (she calls them pillows), plus some table runners. The the other day in the post I got 5 amazing handbags, one more beautiful than the other!

They are all made by hand using kimono and obi (Kimono belts) materials, and you can get them from her cottage industry shop Kimono Tango.

If you like Japanese design and craft do have a look at Kimono Tango's website in English: they make cushions, bags, iPhone and iPad covers, Laptop bags and more… made to order and sent all over the world. Kimono Tango is made up by a group of Japanese mothers and grandmothers who are trying to make ends meet in the current economic crisis, which was worsened by the recent earthquake and tsunami.
They make everything themselves, often using their heirloom kimonos and obi. You can only make about 6 or 7 bags from one obi, and Kimono Tango uses fabrics exclusively from 1955 to 1965 circa, to make sure that they are real silk, and handcrafted. The handles are leather. Also have a look at their Facebook Page to keep up with new designs and news!

And what will I do with five bags? Well, the one above is my favourite, and it is MINE!!, The first one in the post I gave to my friend Flavia who is a super stylish person and came over for dinner the day after I got the bags when they were all displayed in the entrance and she was so taken by them that I asked her to choose one! Then I'll give one to my mother and one to my sister in law in Italy, and the last one is for …. you!

Yes, this is a giveaway, to enter just pop by Kimono Tango's website or Facebook Page, then come back here and leave a reply to this post saying what you liked best (bags, cushions, covers…). You have one week from now! Good luck!

Photos by Alessandra Zecchini ©

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Kimono Tango

When I was in Japan in January I met my old friend Chizuko, and she presented me with these beautiful cushions (she calls them pillows), plus some table runners. They are all made by hand using kimono and obi (Kimono belts) materials, and you can get them from her cottage industry shop Komono Tango.

I think that it is a fantastic idea to recycle kimono fabric: the materials are beautiful: silk and often with fine gold and silver threads, traditional designs, and handwoven by craftspeople. I had some old kimono and obi cuttings myself that I had made into cushions a few years ago and they still look like new! I added Chizuko's ones and now they are all on my bed.

If you like Japanese design and craft do have a look at Kimono Tango's website in English: they make cushions to order and send them all over the world. Kimono Tango is made up by a group of Japanese mothers and grandmothers who are trying to make ends meet in the current economic crisis, which was worsened by the recent earthquake and tsunami.

They make everything themselves, often using their heirloom kimonos and obi. You can only make about 6 or 7 cushions from one obi, and Kimono Tango uses fabrics exclusively from 1955 to 1965 circa, to make sure that they are real silk, and handcrafted. I can really appreciate this, some of you may know that I have a passion for Japan, but I also have a passion for textiles, especially Japanese textiles, since my major at university was Japanese art and textiles of the Edo Period (1603-1868).