SHANARI SHIRTS | シャナリシャツ

Kimonos that are full of memories…I never wear them anymore, but I just can’t throw them out.” Many people may struggle to find the chance to let go of their old kimonos. SHANARI SHIRTS transforms those high-quality kimonos that have been sitting at the back of your wardrobe, longing for their time to shine, into shirts that can be worn on a daily basis.

Combining kimonos to create new designs

The patterns, colours, and fabrics used in kimonos all have strong individualities. SHANARI SHIRTS are made by carefully unravelling each kimono and sewing together a few different pieces of the fabric while maintaining an exquisite balance–therefore, each shirt has a unique design.

Giving send-offs to kimonos that never had the chance to see the world

“I have to throw it out one day” With this thought in their owners’ minds, many kimonos have been left to sleep at the back of wardrobes for a long time. It’s not easy to let them go, simply because they hold so many memories. SHANARI SHIRTS receives the souls of such kimonos through transference. Other than “selling” or “throwing away”, we aim to create the option of “transferring”.

A wide range of designs for many occasions

Depending on their material, type, and pattern of the fabric, kimonos are worn for various occasions. SHANARI SHIRTS also offers many designs that are easy to wear for modern occasions. For example, for office-casual events, parties, short outings–they’re also perfect for gifting, like for Father’s Day or Mother’s Day, too. From flashy to simple, we present a selection of designs that meet the wearers’ needs.

A system for tracing memories

“I’d like to see what became of the kimono I gave you”. Many of the kimonos’ previous owners want to know how their old kimonos are doing. We assign a fabric number to each kimono and tanmono (bolt of fabric) that are donated to us to keep them organised. Each number is communicated to the kimono’s previous owner, and is also displayed on our online shop as well as product tags, allowing one to see the finished shirt.

Building a brand that provides work to everyone

SHANARI SHIRTS cannot be made by one person. We bring together the efforts of many different people living in small towns, where everyone works at their own pace, doing what they do best. Rather than employing in-house artisans, it’s as if there are artisans all over town. It may be a way of working that is reminiscent of the time when homes and workplaces were closer together, and piecework and home-based crafts were seen everywhere.

Product Lineup

SHANARI SHIRTS
Standard long-sleeved and short-sleeved shirts. Signature products of SHANARI SHIRTS.
Sizes: XS-XL

DABO SHIRTS
Shirts dyed with natural dyes, made from deadstock white kimono fabric.
Sizes: XS-XL

MICHIYUKI SHIRTS
Pull-on shirts inspired by the shape of michiyuki coats.
Sizes: S-L

HAORI JACKETS
Jackets that can be worn over clothes, such as hoodies, T-shirts, and button-down shirts.
Sizes: S-L

We hold cultural tours

Shiga Prefecture, the land of lakes. About an hour by train from Kyoto.

Nagahama lies to the north.

The SHANARI SHIRTS workshop is located in Kamiyamada, at the foot of Odani Castle, where a fierce battle took place approximately 450 years ago.

In a place where it feels like you’ve traveled back in time, we create products with our fun-loving colleagues.

We want everyone to see what we see. With that in mind, we hold satoyama and workshop tours from both Japan and abroad.

Activities
・A dyeing workshop using wildflowers and indigo from the local mountain area
・A home-cooked lunch featuring rice and vegetables grown in the local mountain area
・A tour of the SHANARI SHIRTS workshop, where you can order and purchase products
・Other seasonal activities

* The activities offered may vary depending on the season and weather.
* Reservations are required. Please contact us for details.
* English support is available.

Kimonos were the epitome of the circular style of the Edo period!

Sustainability, circular economy, and upcycling…we hear these phrases every day, and they are becoming the new standard in Japan. This, however, is not a new phenomenon; these ideas have been around since the Edo period. When kimonos got worn out, they were hung on hangers called “takeuma furugi uri (stilts used clothing sellers)” and sold as used clothing or old cloth–and when they got even older, they were torn up and turned into rags or diapers. Finally, they were burned and turned into ashes, so they were completely used up.

So what about today? Kimonos with nowhere to go remain in wardrobes, only to wait for time to pass. By adding designs to them, they can be given new purposes. Not new, but nostalgic; we aim to create a brand that traces back to the roots of the Japanese spirit.

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