| Japanese history includes alternating periods of | | | | culture. Ancient Japan readily adopted other cultures |
| isolation and revolutionary influences from the rest of | | | | and practices and most of its own culture is lost |
| the world. As early as the Jomon period from about | | | | among these adaptations. |
| 14000BC to 300 BC, Japan had a hunter-gatherer | | | | Ancient Japanese clothing was mostly unisex, with |
| lifestyle; wooden stilt houses, pit dwelling, and | | | | differences being in colors, length and sleeves. A |
| agriculture. Weaving was still unknown and the ancient | | | | Kimono tied with an Obi or a sash around the waist |
| Japanese clothing consisted of fur. However, some of | | | | was the general clothing and with the advent of |
| the world's oldest pottery is found in Japan, along with | | | | western clothing are now mostly worn at home or |
| daggers, jade, combs made form shell and clay figures. | | | | special occasions. Women's obi in ancient Japanese |
| The period thereafter to 250 BC saw the influx of | | | | clothing would mostly be elaborate and decorative. |
| new practices like weaving, rice sowing, iron and | | | | Some would be as long as 4meters and tied as a |
| bronze making influenced by china and Korea. Chinese | | | | flower or a butterfly. Though a Yukata means a 'bath |
| travelers describe the men 'with braided hair, tattooing | | | | clothing', these were often worn in the summers as |
| and women with large, single-piece clothing.' Initially | | | | morning and evening gowns. Ancient Japanese clothing |
| ancient Japanese clothing consisted of single piece | | | | consisted of mena and women wearing Haori or |
| clothing. The ancient and classical Japan begins from | | | | narrow paneled jacket for special occasions such as |
| the middle of the 3rd century to 710. An advanced | | | | marriages and feasts. These are worn over a kimono |
| agricultural and militaristic culture defines this period. By | | | | and tied with strings at the breast level. |
| 645, Japan rapidly adopted Chinese practices and | | | | The most interesting piece of ancient Japanese |
| reorganized its penal code. | | | | clothing is the ju-ni-hitoe or the 'twelve layers' adorned |
| The peak period of ancient Japan and its imperial court | | | | by ladies at the imperial court. It is multi-layered and |
| is from 794 to 1185. Art, poetry, literature and trade | | | | very heavy and worn on a daily basis for centuries! |
| expeditions continued with vigor. Warlords and | | | | The only change would be the thickness of the fabric |
| powerful regional families ruled ancient Japan from | | | | and the number of layers depending on the season. |
| 1185 to 1333 and the emperor was just a figure head. | | | | Princesses still wear these on weddings. |
| By the Japanese Middle Ages, Portugal had introduced | | | | Since the Japanese people don't wear footwear inside |
| firearms by a chance landing of their ship at Japanese | | | | their homes, tabi is still worn. These are split -toe socks |
| coast; samurai charging ranks were cut down; trade | | | | woven out of non-stretch materials with thick soles. |
| with Netherlands, England and Spain had opened up | | | | Clogs have been worn for centuries in ancient Japan |
| new avenues. Several missionaries had entered Japan | | | | and were known as Geta. These were made of |
| as well. | | | | wood with two straps and were unisexual. Zori was |
| Distinct features of the lifestyle, ancient Japanese | | | | footwear made of softer materials like straw and |
| clothing and women is difficult to decipher for the | | | | fabric with a flat sole. |
| simple reason that it is super-imposed by the Chinese | | | | |