Image: Womens Sewing Party, 1885, Toyohara Chikanobu.
What is WA-SAI 和裁?: The Art of Kimono Sewing series
Join Evelyn Leung, professional costumer and certified Kimono Dressing Instructor in this 3-part lecture-demo series exploring what makes kimono sewing techniques distinctly different from those in the West.
Each lecture can be attended as a stand-alone session, or come to all 3 and begin your journey to making your own kimono!
SESSION ONE | APRIL 21
Kimono Sewing vs. Western Sewing: An Overview
Session One begins by comparing the basics of Kimono and Western clothing. From the philosophical to the practical, kimono are fundamentally different from Western clothes. This session will delve into analyzing those differences and raise appreciation for the deceptively simple garment.
Date: Sunday April 21, 2024
Time: 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Location: SaBi Tea Arts, Vancouver
Session price: $35
SESSION TWO | MAY 26
Fabrics for Kimono: Will any Fabric do?
Image: Woman shopping for fine kimono cloth at the drapers - from the series Azuma fūzoku fuku tsukushi, Toyohara Chikanobu (1838–1912)
Take an in-depth look at the important role fabric selection plays when creating kimono. Kimono fabrics are very different from Western fabrics. This session will teach you what to look for if you want to make your own kimono or want to repurpose old kimono into modern garments.
Date: Sunday May 26, 2024
Time: 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Location: SaBi Tea Arts, Vancouver
Session price: $35
SESSION THREE | JUNE 23
Tools of the Trade: Looking at Kimono Tailoring Tools
Albumen print image: Sewing, Japan, Meiji period, 1880-1900, Honolulu Museum of Art.
Explore the specialized tools used in kimono sewing. While it is perfectly possible to make a kimono with western sewing techniques, learning how kimono are made by hand with traditional tools will give even the most seasoned stitcher a run for their money.
Date: Sunday June 23, 2024
Time: 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Location: SaBi Tea Arts, Vancouver
Session price: $35
About the Educator:
Evelyn Leung is a certified Kimono Dressing Teacher and professional costumer with ten years’ experience in the film industry.
Evelyn began her education in fashion garment construction at an early age while at Eric Hamber Secondary, continuing on to study Theatre Costuming at the University of British Columbia. She earned her Master of Fine Arts at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, specializing in Asian Theatre, before moving back to Vancouver to work in film. In 2017, she was awarded the Monbukagakusho MEXT scholarship to research 2.5D Theatre in Kyoto, where she also obtained her Kimono Dressing Teacher Certification (着物着付け師範). Recently, Evelyn worked as an integral part of the costume team for the Vancouver-shot limited series Shōgun.
We gratefully acknowledge support from the Community Fund of the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society.