Hiroko Nose
hiroko nose, an amateur crafter who lives in kyoto, japan, retired
“the kimono is a traditional japanese garment worn by the japanese from a very ancient time. it is highly valued internationally for it’s craftsmanship and elegancy. nowadays, japanese people rarely wear kimonos in everyday life. in spite of that, they reserve them for occasions like weddings, funerals, tea ceremonies, or other special events, such as summer festivals. to me, i would love to share it’s beauty and story to many other people. in order to accomplish that, i have rendered the material which was used for making kimono to create some today’s accessories. therefore, people can carry the accessories on a regular basis and at the same time learn the story. my own brand, garaku, is established subsequently.
about garaku, “ga” is “雅” conveying gracefulness while “raku” is “樂” expressing enjoyment. it is about the enjoyment bringing the graceful japanese culture into today’s daily accessories.
i were born and raised in the ancient city of japan – kyoto. for that reason, i have had many chances wearing kimono and embracing its beauty dearly. however, in modern days, the number of occasions wearing kimono had gradually been reduced. many of my beautiful kimonos have been stored quietly in my closet. in my private collection, the kimonos that i possess are mostly given by my mother and even my grandmother. they are all well above 50 years or even close to 100 years in age. although after half of a century, the kimonos are still shining out elegantly as ever. recently, i would want to revive these kimonos once again but in different forms.
i have started to disassemble the kimonos with great care making little crafts with these beautiful fabric. i would like to share with you my handmade vintage kimono crafts.”
Fat Cave 