Meisen Kimono with Geometric Patterns

This meisen kimono, made in Isesaki in the 1950s, demonstrates the enduring popularity of the abstract motifs that were favored in the 1920s and 1930s. It was inspired by the modernist Netherlands-based De Stijl movement, which embraced a pared-down aesthetic based on geometric forms and primary colors. The eye-catching garment also represents the revival of the double ikat technique from the 1930s, with stencil-printed warp and weft threads. “Fast-fashion” meisen robes for the New Woman were among the first commodities that helped build Japan’s capitalist economy. Meisen’s history from the 1920s through the 1950s captures a pivotal time when Japan’s engagement with the West changed Japanese fashion and laid the foundations for contemporary styles, both for kimonos and the Western designs inspired by them.