We here at CF absolutely adore kimono-style jackets. Kimonos are a traditional Japanese garment, and are often characterized by their T-shape cut, large sleeves, and long, straight-line silhouette.

As an ethnic minority and a designer, I am very conscious about social justice issues, especially in fashion. (CF has some amazing writers who cover a range of these topics. If you want to read more, check out our Fashionably Informed column!) After reviewing countless DIYs for the “kimono,” I was disappointed to see few critically (and at times, appropriately) engage in creating one.

So, after some research on the kimono, I opted for a silhouette that was more “true” to the traditional kimono design. Keep reading for a step-by-step tutorial on how to create your very own kimono-style jacket:

Table of Contents

Materials

• 2 large scarves; I scooped up these touristy ones from a souvenir shop near where I stayed in Paris
• Fabric scissors
• Needle and thread

Step One

Lay one scarf over the other. Make sure they’re perfectly aligned and both oriented in the same direction.

Step Two

Carefully fold the overlaying scarves in half (on the vertical axis). Again, make sure they are still perfectly aligned with each other.

Step Three

Cut a vertical rectangle out of the bottom right-hand corner (NOT the folded side). Cut through all of the layers of fabric, then unfold. You should have “T”-shaped pieces of fabric, as shown above.

Step Four

Before we sew, first make sure that the “right sides” of the fabric are touching each other (a.k.a the side of the fabric with the print… see here for a brief sewing 101). During this entire process, your stitches should be through the “wrong sides” of the fabric; think of it like the garment is inside out.