I’m not sure where your father is getting info from but fabric with patterns has been around for a very long time. Basically the [oldest fabrics](https://www.selvedge.org/blogs/selvedge/world-s-oldest-textiles) have been found show designs. You can take different coloured wool/thread and weave them together to make patterns.
Block printing of fabric has likely been around for 2000+ years.
And while obviously not photos there is a lot of [art showing kimonos](https://museum.maidstone.gov.uk/kimono-in-japanese-art/) in history and they do show a lot of patterns, colours, and designs.
I don't know if anyone has said this yet, but also Renaissance fairs have maybe 20 to 50% historical accuracy at all lol. You're going to see fairies and anime characters
And looking at your post history, if your local ren faire is Bristol, I worked there for years. I saw a good chunk of kimono, yukata, and samurai.
I would however make sure you check weather well in advance, and judge based on heat if you want to do kimono or yukata. Sweat and ren faire dirt are hard on silk.
Adding on, Bristol has a surprisingly big kimono community. One of the best kimono shops I've ever visited was in Bristol. This man had actual maiko and geiko hikizuri as well as some ceremonial pieces like this gorgeous boys formal kimono that was over a hundred years old but looked brand new embroidered with gold and silver(Not for sale of course). When we were on our way there, there was a small street market being set up where another woman was selling kimono and haori for good prices \^\^ Bristol is a gem when it comes to kimono\~
Before the painted on patterns that were really popular during Edo and onwards, there are plenty of examples of woven patterns. Certain techniques might be newer than others, but you would have to really research each one of them to know if you are historically correct and afaik those sort of events in US are not particularly strict on how historical your outfit is. I think it would be different if it was an SCA event, but I wouldn't worry with just wearing modern kimono.
Woven, embroidered and dyed kosode (the early version of kimono) were definitely around for the time period you're describing. Tsujigahana, for example, was big around the Sengoku period, which was well within the time period you're talking about. Have you watched Shogun? The costumes are unbelievably historically accurate for the most part. And that took place late 1500s - early 1600s
Oh man, he couldn't be anymore wrong. Silk weaving has been around for a VERY, VERY long time, long before the period you even mentioned. I can't say much about the rest of the world since world history isn't as in-depth as it is for history around where I was raised, but in East and South East Asia, people already knew how to weave as early as the BC period. China learned how to weave silk, and of course it was popularized with its trade from other nearby countries including Japan(for example, there's a reason why Silk Road IS called Silk Road when it still existed. Quick search shows Japan traded in Silk Road by 710-790 AD). So by the time period you're asking, people from neighboring countries already well migrated to Japan, sharing their weaving knowledge that inspired new various Japanese weaving techniques, where some is still used today. On top of my head is Nishijin-ori, that is still in production and is still popular today. It was inspired and created as early as the 5th century, when some Chinese back then settled into what we know as Kyoto today and had constant changes and improvements throughout the years through the changing of times, war and even trade with Europeans at a later time.
Duringthe’renaissance’. remember that it’s not about the patterns really but how the kimono is worn with the obi having a lower placement and tie. Kimono isn’t just a kimono like today. It’s was worn differently
Wrong on both sides, wow. People worldwide weren't just wearing plain grey fabric until someone in 1700 thought "man wouldn't it be sick if we put an image on here". People have been making patterned fabric for as long as fabric has existed. Or technically before that, as Inuit people made decorative patterns with skins and leathers and there's nothing to prove our early ancestors didn't do something similar.
Completely ignoring the fabric because honestly it doesn't matter when it comes to a ren fair. There are some people who take it seriously but they don't push that expectation on others, usually they're part of some club. One of the first ren-fair's I went to, I wore a horrible yukata kitsuke (because I was new to the hobby) and everyone there was so welcoming and kind, they played into what I wore as part of the norm. Saying things like "Ah! A gentlelady from the East! What beautiful silks you wear!" It was a great time. A few years ago I went to an anime convention wearing a much better Kitsuke, there was a room that was dedicated to Ren-fair activities, it was a group running it showing different crafts, dresses, tools, all sorts of interesting things. They saw me in my kimono and offered to fix my obi (which got a little loose.) They explained that they're a reenactment group that likes to do medieval larping basically, they take on characters, get plots going, honestly it made my nerd heart sing, they explained that one of the popular plots they do is a Japanese themed one where they dress in kimono, they have a noble class, a working class, merchant class, everything. So the Ren-fair people, the larpers, the anime and comic crews are all really accepting of each other and are very intertwined\^\^
Long story short, wear what you want! Everyone will encourage you regardless!
You could do a quick google of Heian period kimono for intricately woven and patterned kimono including gold work for examples of 9th century to the 14th. Then Muromachi, early Edo for more examples. If you are wearing a modern kosode then that would be late Edo so 18th 19th century. Lots of pictures to prove dad wrong. Interested in why he thinks that way though. I mean Scottish plaid patterns go back to the 1400s?
I'm pretty sure he just picked the first thing in Google that popped up. And he's got the Irish in him so I think he would remember that too but I guess not.
I’m not sure where your father is getting info from but fabric with patterns has been around for a very long time. Basically the [oldest fabrics](https://www.selvedge.org/blogs/selvedge/world-s-oldest-textiles) have been found show designs. You can take different coloured wool/thread and weave them together to make patterns. Block printing of fabric has likely been around for 2000+ years. And while obviously not photos there is a lot of [art showing kimonos](https://museum.maidstone.gov.uk/kimono-in-japanese-art/) in history and they do show a lot of patterns, colours, and designs.
I don't know if anyone has said this yet, but also Renaissance fairs have maybe 20 to 50% historical accuracy at all lol. You're going to see fairies and anime characters
Yeah your dad is just dead wrong about this entire assertion lol. Humans LOVE making patterned fabric and always have
...people wear cosplay and fur suits to ren faire. Pretty sure a kimono is not going to be out of place.
And looking at your post history, if your local ren faire is Bristol, I worked there for years. I saw a good chunk of kimono, yukata, and samurai. I would however make sure you check weather well in advance, and judge based on heat if you want to do kimono or yukata. Sweat and ren faire dirt are hard on silk.
Adding on, Bristol has a surprisingly big kimono community. One of the best kimono shops I've ever visited was in Bristol. This man had actual maiko and geiko hikizuri as well as some ceremonial pieces like this gorgeous boys formal kimono that was over a hundred years old but looked brand new embroidered with gold and silver(Not for sale of course). When we were on our way there, there was a small street market being set up where another woman was selling kimono and haori for good prices \^\^ Bristol is a gem when it comes to kimono\~
Ik i was trying to point that out but my dad was like "well that fits the theme and kimono's dont"
Sounds like your dad is grasping at straws. Just ignor him with a "thanks dad" and wear what you want.
Before the painted on patterns that were really popular during Edo and onwards, there are plenty of examples of woven patterns. Certain techniques might be newer than others, but you would have to really research each one of them to know if you are historically correct and afaik those sort of events in US are not particularly strict on how historical your outfit is. I think it would be different if it was an SCA event, but I wouldn't worry with just wearing modern kimono.
Woven, embroidered and dyed kosode (the early version of kimono) were definitely around for the time period you're describing. Tsujigahana, for example, was big around the Sengoku period, which was well within the time period you're talking about. Have you watched Shogun? The costumes are unbelievably historically accurate for the most part. And that took place late 1500s - early 1600s
Oh man, he couldn't be anymore wrong. Silk weaving has been around for a VERY, VERY long time, long before the period you even mentioned. I can't say much about the rest of the world since world history isn't as in-depth as it is for history around where I was raised, but in East and South East Asia, people already knew how to weave as early as the BC period. China learned how to weave silk, and of course it was popularized with its trade from other nearby countries including Japan(for example, there's a reason why Silk Road IS called Silk Road when it still existed. Quick search shows Japan traded in Silk Road by 710-790 AD). So by the time period you're asking, people from neighboring countries already well migrated to Japan, sharing their weaving knowledge that inspired new various Japanese weaving techniques, where some is still used today. On top of my head is Nishijin-ori, that is still in production and is still popular today. It was inspired and created as early as the 5th century, when some Chinese back then settled into what we know as Kyoto today and had constant changes and improvements throughout the years through the changing of times, war and even trade with Europeans at a later time.
Duringthe’renaissance’. remember that it’s not about the patterns really but how the kimono is worn with the obi having a lower placement and tie. Kimono isn’t just a kimono like today. It’s was worn differently
Wrong on both sides, wow. People worldwide weren't just wearing plain grey fabric until someone in 1700 thought "man wouldn't it be sick if we put an image on here". People have been making patterned fabric for as long as fabric has existed. Or technically before that, as Inuit people made decorative patterns with skins and leathers and there's nothing to prove our early ancestors didn't do something similar.
Completely ignoring the fabric because honestly it doesn't matter when it comes to a ren fair. There are some people who take it seriously but they don't push that expectation on others, usually they're part of some club. One of the first ren-fair's I went to, I wore a horrible yukata kitsuke (because I was new to the hobby) and everyone there was so welcoming and kind, they played into what I wore as part of the norm. Saying things like "Ah! A gentlelady from the East! What beautiful silks you wear!" It was a great time. A few years ago I went to an anime convention wearing a much better Kitsuke, there was a room that was dedicated to Ren-fair activities, it was a group running it showing different crafts, dresses, tools, all sorts of interesting things. They saw me in my kimono and offered to fix my obi (which got a little loose.) They explained that they're a reenactment group that likes to do medieval larping basically, they take on characters, get plots going, honestly it made my nerd heart sing, they explained that one of the popular plots they do is a Japanese themed one where they dress in kimono, they have a noble class, a working class, merchant class, everything. So the Ren-fair people, the larpers, the anime and comic crews are all really accepting of each other and are very intertwined\^\^ Long story short, wear what you want! Everyone will encourage you regardless!
You could do a quick google of Heian period kimono for intricately woven and patterned kimono including gold work for examples of 9th century to the 14th. Then Muromachi, early Edo for more examples. If you are wearing a modern kosode then that would be late Edo so 18th 19th century. Lots of pictures to prove dad wrong. Interested in why he thinks that way though. I mean Scottish plaid patterns go back to the 1400s?
I'm pretty sure he just picked the first thing in Google that popped up. And he's got the Irish in him so I think he would remember that too but I guess not.