KANAZAWA – March 10, 2022 – With a team of skilled kimono designers and resourceful fabric suppliers, Rapyuta Sumie is transforming beautiful kimonos into unique bags and accessory belts for everyday use. By upcycling traditional kimonos into versatile fashion accessories, the team at Rapyuta Sumie hopes to revive the kimono industry and help women all over the world to look stylish.
Since traditional kimonos are heavy and restrict movement, they are normally reserved for special events where the wearer wants to embrace and display their Japanese heritage. These events include weddings, tea ceremonies, a 20th birthday celebration or a graduation ceremony. Kimono designers have recently started to design modern kimonos that are lighter and easier to use, but people’s lifestyles make it difficult to wear a kimono every day.
“The kimono is reserved as an article of clothing that is only worn for special occasions,” says Rapyuta Sumie founder Makoto Horita. “As we stash our kimonos in our closets, the industry shrinks and loses value. By 2020, an industry that had been worth 1.8 trillion JPY in 1980 had dropped to 270 billion JPY. By upcycling the traditional kimono into bags and belts, we’ve turned them into versatile statement pieces for daily use. We hope to boost the industry with a modern product that appeals to women in their 20s and 30s.”
All the Kimono Obi products from Rapyuta Sumie are handmade by a designer who enjoys using her skills to design the beautiful bags and accessory belts in detail. Since no kimono bag or belt is designed to be exactly like the other, each piece is as unique as the wearer. With a kimono obi bag or belt, women can add a touch of elegance to any outfit. With these eye-catching designs, the team at Rapyuta Sumie is reintroducing the kimono into people’s closets as a fashion staple.
About Rapyuta Sumie
Rapyuta Sumie is a company that upcycles beautiful kimonos, transforming them into unique bags and accessory belts designed for everyday use. All the Kimono Obi products are handmade in Ishikawa. With this project, the team at Rapyuta Sumie hopes to turn the kimono into a wardrobe staple, thus reviving the kimono industry.
Media Contact
Company Name: Rapyuta Sumie
Contact Person: Yuki Ueda
Email: Send Email
Country: Japan
Website: https://www.instagram.com/rapyuta_international/