Photo/Illutration Members of N180 at the Kyoto city hall on Aug. 7, with two in the center wearing kimono featuring memorable scenes from the “Mobile Suit Gundam” robot anime series (Ippei Yaoita)

KYOTO--A unique collaboration to promote Nishijin-ori silk fabric gives fans the chance to suit up in kimono and obi sashes themed on the popular “Mobile Suit Gundam” robot anime series.

The two kimono were designed by N180, a group of three Nishijin-ori manufacturers established to promote the charms of the traditional textile and invigorate the struggling kimono industry.

“We would love for kimono fans and those interested in Gundam to wear them," said Soichiro Imagawa, 48, president of Imagawa Orimono Co. in Kyoto’s Kamigyo Ward, who is also a member of the group.

The first option is a kimono for men that includes an image of a Gundam firing a shot. Its obi features red, blue and white in tribute to the main robot, and it is interwoven with gold thread and gold and silver leaf to express the emblem of the Earth Federation Forces to which the Gundam belong.

The other is a “homongi” formal kimono for women. Its obi is made using Kyoto-style “yuzen” dyeing techniques to incorporate the motifs of the White Base spacecraft and blue butterflies against a sunset.

The kimono and obi were unveiled at the city hall on Aug. 7.

The kimono and obi for men cost 275,000 yen ($1,870), while the kimono and obi for women are priced at 412,500 yen. Tailoring fees are not included.

The garments are sold through N180’s official website at (https://nishijin180.localinfo.jp/), while they are also available for rental at the Nishijin Textile Center in Kamigyo Ward.

Related News