Midoriko

Midoriko - Green Lady

This is a custom furisode I recently completed for a friend.  I purchased this karinui some time ago and managed to get it for an absolute steal because it had a small hole in it.  I managed to patch the hole up and now it's a wearable kimono!

It took me quite some time to finish this piece partly because I was searching for the right hakkake, and partly because I ran out of lining fabric half way through and had to order more.

For the hakkake, I had this lovely dusty rose haori fabric that was the perfect colour.  Personally, I am partial to patterned hakkake, but for the longest time, I opposed using this fabric because it was patterned with chrysanthemums.  It didn't fit with the spring seasonality of the furisode.  However, as I became more familiar with mirrored season motifs, I warmed to the idea of putting chrysanthemums on this furisode's hakkake.  As a result, we have chrysanthemums representing autumn on the hakkake, and yukiwa (snowflakes) for winter as well as cherry blossoms for spring on the exterior of the kimono.

I named this furisode "Midoriko" for it's green background colour.  Also, green is my friend's favourite colour, so when she wears it, she will be the green lady.  

Please excuse the large, and very messy ohashiori in the kitsuke photos.  This furisode doesn't fit my mannequin very well, and I find it incredibly difficult to do ohashiori on a mannequin with no legs to help hold the fabric in place.