Hellllllo Tumblr! Welcome to Kimono Coast to Coast!
Folks, we’re super excited to be here. But who is this mysterious “we” you ask? Good question!
We are Mei-Bell or メイ・ベル (pronounced “Maybell”) and we love kimono! No, seriously, we might have a problem.
The Mei (メイ):
BA in East Asian Languages and Cultures (Japan focus), Minor in History.
Lover of cats, panda, and the color purple.
Has “advanced” style tastes.
The Bell (ベル):
BA in East Asian Languages and Cultures (Japan focus) and in Costume Design.
Lover of dogs, video games, and stripes.
Has questionable style tastes.
Goals for this blog:
-To function as an english language resource for people interested in kimono.
-To explore the history, craft, and culture of kimono, both in Japan and the United States.
-To aid kimono have-ers in kimono wearing and care and kimono not-have-ers in kimono acquiring.
-To answer your questions about kimono and everything surrounding it to the best of our ability.
-Finally, to have fun and geek out about a beautiful and unique aspect of (traditionally) Japanese material culture.
Much of the content of this blog will be based on our own personal experiences and observations while in Japan and elsewhere. However, we will also be making use of outside scholarship and resources which we will make a concerted effort to cite whenever possible.
Let’s get started!