Every August, I’m reminded of my childhood, when I was busy trying to finish my summer vacation homework.
In August, during the summer vacation season, hands-on workshops are held everywhere, and many events for families and children were held around Kurashiki City.
At kimono remake brand “Takehime,” located in the Bikan Historical Area, a “kimono torn-paper collage” workshop was held, making use of kimono fabric scraps.
We often hear about and see torn-paper collages made with paper, but a kimono torn-paper collage is a unique event offered by Takehime, which makes kimono remake items.
Thinking it looked like a chance to create something with character, I decided to take part.
Here’s a look at the kimono torn-paper collage workshop.
The information provided was accurate when this article was published in October 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the “kimono torn-paper collage” workshop?
The kimono torn-paper collage workshop is a hands-on event hosted by “Takehime,” a kimono remake brand in the Bikan Historical Area.
The clothes and accessories displayed inside Takehime are all remade from kimono. The kimono fabric scraps left over from making these items are freely pasted onto a blank canvas, a hand fan, or other surfaces to create a one-of-a-kind work of art.
There are several motif templates to use as examples, and you can easily sketch a design by tracing the lines of a template. This workshop is easy to try for people who aren’t confident at drawing, as well as young children.
It was originally an event held for just one month in August 2024, but due to its popularity, it is now held year-round. It seems you can take part anytime, so if you’re interested in kimono torn-paper collage, ask the shop staff about it.
I took part during summer vacation, so I thought it would also be a great workshop for a summer vacation assignment. In fact, many of the participants were children, and apparently many families visited the shop together.
The participation fee is 1,100 yen (tax included).
There is no time limit, but if you don’t finish, you can take the kimono fabric scraps home and continue working on it there. Those who want to be meticulous can really immerse themselves in the process.
What the day was like
I took part in the workshop on Friday, August 16.
From the shopping arcade in front of JR Kurashiki Station, I walked toward the Bikan Historical Area. After leaving the arcade and walking a little farther, I saw the entrance to Takehime on my left. I headed straight up to the second floor.
A space for making kimono torn-paper collages had been set up in one corner of the shop. Reservations weren’t required, so it seemed like even people who just happened to drop by could easily give it a try.
Choose a motif and sketch it out
First, you choose the material on which to make your kimono torn-paper collage. There are three options: drawing paper, a hand fan, or a canvas panel. I decided to use a hand fan, which seemed practical for everyday use.
You can paste the kimono fabric scraps however you like, but Takehime manager Warabino told me, “It’s easier to do the collage if you sketch it in pencil first.”
I picked up a pencil, intending to sketch something, but couldn’t decide what to make. I wasn’t confident I could draw a good sketch if I chose something too elaborate.
As I hesitated, I was handed a plastic template that could serve as a model. It was a welcome lifesaver for me, as I was struggling to choose a motif.
Since summer means the sea, I chose a crab. I’m looking forward to seeing how my crab hand fan turns out.
The sketch was complete just by tracing the template. It seems like even people who aren’t good at drawing could do this easily.
At last, the preparations were complete. Now it was time to start pasting on the kimono fabric scraps.
Every piece has a different pattern! Pasting on kimono fabric scraps
A colorful assortment of kimono fabric scraps had been prepared. They came in various sizes, and you could cut them freely with scissors.
There were about six small boxes containing the scraps, with a wide variety of patterns, so at first I wasn’t sure which ones to use.
For reference, I asked to see the collage made by the participant next to me.
This person had made a “Japanese grass lizard.” The elegant use of yellow and the design with plenty of open space showed a real sense of style.
During our conversation, they told me, “I love reptiles, and I actually keep a Japanese grass lizard, too.”
The participant encouraged me, saying, “It’ll naturally start to look good as you keep pasting things on,” so I decided to just get started. I put double-sided tape along the sketch lines, then placed the fabric scraps on top.
Since crabs are associated with red, I started by pasting on red scraps. I layered pink scraps on top for an accent.
As I added red and pink scraps, it gradually began to look like a crab.
As I adjusted the size of each piece, I filled in the gaps to hide the white spaces. This kind of detailed work is something I rarely get the chance to do, and it brought back fond memories of art class in elementary school.
After finishing the red parts of the shell, I moved on to the eyes.
As I looked for scraps that seemed like they could be cut into circles, I found a pattern that looked just right for the eyes. It looked like an eyeball, complete with a pupil, but apparently it was originally a scrap from an umbrella pattern.
Once I cut out and pasted on the umbrella-pattern piece, it looked unmistakably like a crab’s eye. It felt great to find just the right scrap among so many patterns.
Just as I finished making the eyes, the person next to me completed their torn-fabric picture and showed it to me.
Scraps had been carefully pasted on all the way to the tips of its legs and tail, and you could feel the artist’s love for the Japanese grass lizard. The leaves arranged to highlight the lizard were lovely, too, and I liked the design that made good use of the empty space.
I felt inspired to make a lovely torn-fabric picture of my own.
I had planned to use red scraps as the main color, but there were so many patterns to choose from, so I decided to try using a variety of scraps without limiting myself to red.
For the claws, I used gentle scraps in soft colors to completely change the look. Even scraps from the same kimono each have a different pattern, so I took care in choosing them. It was surprisingly difficult to paste on the pointed tips of the claws, so I carefully attached them using scissors.
Looking at the crab as it became more and more cluttered, I worried a little, “Will this turn into a beautiful picture?” But after I kept pasting for a while, it started coming together nicely, just as the person next to me had advised.
Combining scraps with different patterns made the red stand out, and I felt that it naturally created a sense of depth.
While I worked, I felt the crab’s eyes watching me, but I ignored them and kept pasting until it was finally finished.
By combining scraps in all sorts of colors and patterns, I created a crab that was flashy yet full of character. It turned out so well that I wanted to praise my own work.
Perhaps because it is made with kimono fabric, it has a softer feel than paper.
About two hours had passed since I started, but I enjoyed chatting with the other participants and Warabino as I worked, so the time flew by. Perhaps the shop’s comfortable atmosphere made it easy to concentrate.
I now have a reliable ally to help me get through the hot summer.
From the Writer
The kimono torn-fabric picture was an experience I could get so absorbed in that I lost track of time. If I were a child, I think it would become a summer vacation memory I’d cherish for a long time.
Even scraps from the same kimono each have a different pattern, so simply changing where they are placed slightly changes the colors and overall feel. I found myself wanting to take as much time as I could to get the placement just right. Since I couldn’t picture how it would turn out, it was fun to paste on the pieces while wondering excitedly, “Will it come out well?”
Experiential events like this, where you can handle kimono directly, make kimono feel more familiar.
Be sure to visit Takehime, where you’ll find remade items that make use of a variety of kimono fabrics.
Takehime “Kimono Torn-Fabric Picture” Workshop Information
| Name | Takehime “Kimono Torn-Fabric Picture” Workshop |
|---|---|
| Date | No fixed date ※If you would like to try it, please ask a member of the shop staff. ※10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
| Location | Room 204, 2-25-45 Achi, Kurashiki City |
| Participation fee (tax included) | Participation fee: 1,100 yen (tax included) |
| Website | Takehime |
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