An Upcycled Fashion Project
Kimono Remix was coordinated by Hisa Enomoto of the kokemoos association, who brought together the participating designers and helped organise the collaboration. Working with Praline Lemoult of Indie Vienna, who provided the traditional Japanese kimonos, the designers were invited to reinterpret the garments in their own way.
Designer Celene Venosa transformed her kimono into a mid-season jacket, retaining elements of the original textile while adapting its shape for contemporary wear. The design preserves the distinctive character of the kimono, giving it a different function without losing its original identity.
The finished garment were exhibited at Indie Vienna alongside the work of the other participating designers, each presenting a different interpretation of the traditional kimono.
The exhibition also highlighted the historical relationship between Japan and Austria, which formally began with the Friendship, Trade and Navigation Treaty between Japan and Austria-Hungary in 1869. Japan's participation in the Vienna World's Fair in 1873 further strengthened cultural exchange and contributed to the spread of Japonism in Europe, influencing artistic movements including Vienna's Jugendstil.
Kimono Remix offered a contemporary interpretation of this long-standing cultural relationship, showing how traditional garments can be adapted and given new uses while respecting their origins.
The finished designs were photographed by Elsa Okazaki (opens in new tdocumenting the different ways the participating designers transformed the original kimonos.