We came across these pictures on a Japanese-language website, Youtouch.com. Starting in 2017 and then most recently, they explain how these dresses were upcycled, made from 1950s-1960s vintage kimonos, deconstructed, and made into wedding gowns and other fashionable dresses/gowns; some are then made available as rentals (in Japan). To see full pictures of these lovely dresses, please visit the 2017 blog HERE and the 2021 blog HERE. Also, in early 2020, one of our customers (Below, Pam T., Canada) shared with us her own wedding kimono made from our "A Package" vintage silk women's kimonos:   To see other things made (upcycled) from...

Amami Ohshima Tsumugi Sightseeing GardenAmami Ohshima Island, Japan Ohshima Tsumugi-Mura: Contemporary Maker on Amami Ohshima Island, Japan, 2021 What's this about? In our routine searches for images and information about the vintage Japanese textiles we sell, we came across a Japanese language website which is somewhat of a tourist (Sightseeing) destination on Amami Ohshima island in Japan, the place where various mud and plant-based pongee silk fabrics have been made by hand for centuries. We were happy that they have an English version of this website, and were equally pleased to see some information and pictures of the making of...

Jacket Made from YokoDana’s Vintage Ohshima Tsumugi Silk Kimono -- Carol Lambright Many of our customers are what we call, affectionately, creative types: All have a passion for their craft, whether they call themselves artisans, artists, designers, quilters, stitchers or multi-media artists – regardless of their moniker -- for years we have enjoyed seeing old vintage Japanese textiles we sell by the pound be reborn into something new -- yet old.  One recent feedback that we received comes from Carol Lambright, an Oregon, USA customer. Last year she bought a 10lb package of old Ohshima Tsumugi (pongee) Silks (see more about...

Aloha: Customer Using YokoDana Vintage Japanese Silks - Going Creative in Hawaii