Saturday, July 30, 2011

Repairs & Alterations

eCo-Cent$ is now offering jewelry repair or alteration services. Bring your old or broken pieces to us, and for a reasonable fee, we will bring it back to life!

Alteration service for clothes, either yours or ours, also available.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

If you are interested in giving your old clothes a new look or enhancing your outfit with a uniquely desgined jewelries and belts, these workshops will fit you.  The workshop are as follows:-

1) Jewelry Design & Making
2) Re-fashioning
3) Decorative Items

Kindly call or email us for enquiries about these workshops.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Types Of Japanese Kimono

The kimono is the Japanese traditional garment. 
The word "Kimono"  refers to the Japanese full - length traditional garment. Today, kimonos are mostly worn by women, and on special occasions. The older generation of women and  men still wear kimonos on a daily basis. Kimono is worn most often at weddings, tea ceremonies, and other very special or very formal events and occasions. 
 Types of kimono 
1) Tomesode
The tomesode's worn by the mother or a family member of the bride and groom at a wedding ceremony. It's usually in gold coloured obi. There are 5 family crest print on black cloth and a design at the bottom of the kimono. 
2)Furisode
This kimono has dazzling colours, gorgeous designs and long arms. It is worn at a coming-of-age ceremony, graduation ceremony, wedding party, formal party, an arranged marriage meeting etc. It is the first formal dress for a single woman.
3)Houmongi
Houmongi is worn at a wedding party, tea ceremony and an entrance, or a graduation ceremony, etc.
It is the informal dress for woman and the most popular kimono in Japan. It is the 2nd formal dress after the Tomesode for married woman and the Furisode for single woman. 
4)Tukesage
This kimono is another informal dress for woman. The designs are all facing up. This kimono is a little more casual than Houmongi.Tukesage is worn at a party, tea ceremony and going out etc.
5)Komon
The Komon is a normal dress for woman. The patterns are small everywhere in the komon. It is worn at a house party, lesson, date, theatregoing etc. It is a very convenient komono for little outings. 
6)Iromuji
This kimono has only one colour but black. If one family crest is printed on this kimono, it becomes a formal wear. 
7)Mofuku
It has 5 family crest prints and black in colour as it is the formal wear to a funeral. Everything has to be black except the juban ( underwear ) and the tabi ( socks ). It is only worn to a funeral of a close friend or relative.
8)Jinbei
The jinbei consists of a set if top and bottom. It is a traditional clothing worn during the summer. 



Saturday, July 9, 2011

How to wear the Japanese Yukata

The yukata is a Summer costume in Japan, worn by both men & women but in a slightly different way. It has less layers than a kimono and considered less formal. Sometimes a yukata is worn as a house coat, especially by men.

If you are going to the Bon Odori, then a yukata will suffice. A kimono will be too dressy. The following are videos clips on how to wear a yukata properly.


HOW TO WEAR A YUKATA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCZtGi21ysM
Note : If you have a curvy/hour-glass silhouette, then you have to widen your waist by wearing additional towels, as shown in the video. But if you are a ruler-type, then you can dispense with the towels.

Once the yukata is in place, then we can adjust and tie the obi (a wide sash). To achieve a straight and firm obi, you may put a 'stiffener' pad in the front. This also helps ensure you bow correctly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEGSemM222g&feature=related
 
HOW TO WEAR A MEN'S YUKATA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3atbmNv8Uqw&NR=1


HOW TO FOLD A YUKATA
After washing, you will have to fold the yukata flat and store it for next year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGgBJQSOjLI&feature=related