By now, memorable walk-in moments have become something of a signature for four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. Wimbledon this year has been no different. The 28-year-old tennis player walked onto Centre Court for her first-round match last week in an intricately designed all-white kimono-inspired garment worn over her Nike dress, that has since been discussed, dissected and, no doubt, will earn its place in the annals of tennis fashion. After blitzing through the first round last week, Naomi spoke about her outfit to the press, stating that she was inspired by her culture and the ‘iconic kimono silhouette’, as well as Wimbledon’s strict dress code to adhere to white attire. O-ren Ishii played by Lucy Liu in Kill Bill , who makes an appearance in an all-white kimono also served as inspiration. Behind this creation is Tokyo-based designer, Hana Yagi, who collaborated with creative director and hairstylist Marty Harper to bring this look to life.
Traditional Japanese clothing meets the context of contemporary sports in Hana Yagi’s creations
| Photo Credit:
Adam Kudeimati
“I was contacted by Marty Harper and from the very beginning, we had a clear direction: to respect Wimbledon’s all-white tradition while reinterpreting the structure and philosophy of traditional Japanese clothing within the context of contemporary sports,” she says. Several conversations with Marty followed, and Hana proposed using vintage shiromuku (a traditional all-white bridal kimono), kimono fabrics and tulle. “The concept behind the look was to reinterpret the structure of the traditional Japanese kimono in a contemporary way. Rather than recreating a kimono as it is, I wanted to translate its structure, philosophy, and beauty into the language of sport,” Hana says, of her vision behind the outfit. She adds, “Instead of treating tradition as something fixed, I see it as something that evolves through repeated deconstruction and reconstruction.” All of this was done, while preserving elements such as the silhouette of the kimono sleeves and the ceremonial presence of the shiromuku. “It also needed to be lightweight and comfortable enough for Naomi to walk onto the court. It was equally important that the outfit could be put on and removed quickly,” she says.
