Kimono Wagashi Mikke: Enjoy old kimonos! Purchasers should know these check points. 中古着物を買うなら要チェック！！

Hi !!😀
Today I met a lovely kimono (called Meisen silk) at the used-kimono shop !!😍
The shop was having a New-Year sale and I unexpectedly found it displayed in the front on the way home after shopping glossaries.

I fell in love with it at first sight and rush inside, holding it in my right hand and a full shopping bag in left😂haha...

In many cases such a used and/or antique kimono is damaged (stains, tears and so on).

This time I'm going to write

how to buy used and antique kimonos without failure.

今日はリサイクル着物、特に骨董市などで見かけるアンティーク着物によく見られるシミや破れについて、チェックポイントを紹介します。「買っても着られない😰」という失敗が減るはず♪

🌸Today's kimono🍁

Kimono: Weaved one (Awase). Meisen silk. A leaf pattern.

💡If you want to know Meisen silk, please click this page.

You can read explanation in English and see many photos of Meisen kimonos.

私も大好きな銘仙。こちらのページで説明とたくさんの写真が見られます。

Now, I tell you the points which I pay attention to when choosing and buying kimonos at used-kimono shops and antique flea markets.

<< Outer Material >>

① Check whether no serious damage is found at the parts painted by blue (the lower photo) ! Particularly, be careful of Tamoto (袂: the yellow part). Many people dirty their Tamoto when eating, kitchen work and so on.

The left-lower part (when wearing, right) is hidden when you are wearing.

The back part is not hidden but which of it you put a obi around yourself.

⚠ White spot is a kind of mold. After long time the color changes from white to yellow or brown.
If a wide range of mold colony is seen, I don't buy the kimono. That is because mold spores make other kimonos bad when all kimonos are put away in the dresser.

② Both cuffs. That is because the cuffs touch hands and arms, and become dirty (black).

③ Eri (衿: the neck). In case of a wide neck (the right photo). This part also touch skin.
Particularly, dirt from cosmetics.

表地に関しては着たときの右側下部以外は全部シミや破れの確認をした方が良いです。
胸元は特に目立ちまし、袂は食事の汚れがついていたり。袖口は薄汚れていたりします。
衿はバチ衿にせよ広衿にせよファンデーション汚れが白く見られたりします。
白い点々はカビの可能性が高いです。一緒にほかのお着物を保管するときは要注意！カビ広がります😱

<< Lining >>
In this case, I found small tears and stains on the back side of Eri. I don't mind. It cannot be seen.
But be careful of Dou-ura (胴裏) ! Sweat makes brown stains, and after long time you will find brown stains on the outer material.
The bottom edge may be torn (circled in yellow).