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How to fold Various Wafuku The first most vital element to storing wafuku (Japanese clothing) to avoid damage is to learn how to fold them correctly. Although the diagrams sometimes look daunting and difficult - the art of folding wafuku is quite simple once you learn.
I am including links to various directions - they are mostly the same except for some slight variations - also - some instructions might be easier than others for people to follow.
Protecting your Wafuku After you have folded your garments - you will need to place them in a protective wrapping. Traditionally, tatoshi (acid free rice paper) wrappings are used - which keeps the garment in shape and free of dust. If you are unable to obtain tatoshi, if you can purchase acid free plain white washi paper, you may be able to make your own. You can also carefully wrap them in white sheets/cloth. If you use coloured cloth - make sure it is colour fast first, just incase.
Storing your Wafuku After you have folded and placed your garment in a protective covering, you will then need to store your items flat. Outside of Japan, few of us have the luxury of having the traditional kiri tansu to store our kimono in. This means we need to get creative in how we store and take care of our kimono and obi.
Wooden Chest: Traditionally kiri (paulownia) wood was used for kimono storage so a wooden chest would appear to be both deep and wide enough to store quite a few garments. However, IG member Jmai points out that the the air tight environment may be damaging for the fabric. Also - depending on the type of wood and finish of the chest - there may be damaging acids. If you choose to store your garments in a wooden chest - you will need to make an effort to air them quite often.
Chest of Drawers A chest of drawers that is wide and long enough would be a very convenient storage method. As with the wooden chest idea - it is probably best to air the garments out every once in a while.
Rubbermaid (Plastic) Containers Plastic containers come in all different shapes and sizes suitable for storing kimono and related items. It is also a convenient method if you travel quite often with your garments. Mojuko mentioned that she uses the long, under bed containers to store her hikizuri styles while Kaijou stores her uchikake in their own plastic containers which fit under her bed.
Folded in Closet Kaijou mentioned that she keeps all her kimono in tatoshi wrappers and stores them in zip-up, rectangular garment bags. Around 9-10 of them can fit in each bag and she then stacks them on top of one another in her closet.
does anyone remember in "memoirs of a geisha" that they stored the kimono's in something that almost looks like a dress box? Did they not have Tansu back then? I think they might have... They don't do that anymore I presume. I wouldn't want to either since it would not let the kimono "breathe" well. You'll notice this also when it comes to wedding dresses (especially the silk ones).
No I just looked at that part in the movie (around 13 minutes into the movie) they look almost like wicker style woven boxes. I believe I've seen them else where not just in this movie.... only if I could get a photo! They look like they would let the kimono's "breathe", but I don't know if it would be good to protect them from moths and such.
I've very recently started collecting and storing kitsuke items (*cough*today*cough*). To cover my more delicate items like my han eri and my kimono (and obi when it comes in), I put them in old pillow cases and I put everything in an old oak (or maybe pine) armoire we have. Good idea or bad?
Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Posts: 1031 Location: Florida Fav. Maiko: Fukusuzu Fav. Geiko: Kimika and Mayuha
I'd say it was good. As long as they are stored in a climate controlled area, probably kept away from prolonged bouts of sunlight, and most pets, then they should be fine. To protect against insects, I hear that cedar balls are pretty good. I've also heard that a sprig of lavender will keep insects away too. If you want, you can also buy some cedar oil and run that on the armoire, or the inside anyway. Nonetheless, Florida doesn't have the biggest problem with moths, so you're still pretty good.
I generally like to keep my kimono separated from one another, but if I can't because of storage limits (like now), then I atleast pack them together based on something like color. Or, darks with darks, lights with lights, that sort of thing. I do also keep them in a protective cover, rice paper being my current choice. Acid-free tissue paper used to be my substitute to the rice paper, and there's an art shop in Tampa (near USF, I believe) that sells it for cheap. I'll look up the store for you.
Post subject: Re: :k [Knowledge] - How To Fold and Store Kimono & Wafuku
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:39 am
Maiko-san
Joined: 17 Sep 2006 Posts: 1126 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Fav. Motif: hanabi, goldfish, landscape
I'm usually quite good at figuring out how to fold stuff just by looking at the fold lines, but I just can't seem to do this one thing, so I really have to ask....
Post subject: Re: :k [Knowledge] - How To Fold and Store Kimono & Wafuku
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 4:39 am
Minarai-san
Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 429 Location: Indiana, USA Fav. Maiko: Wakana Fav. Geiko: Kikuno of Nara Fav. Motif: Peony, peacocks, fish, matsu
Anyone have any suggestions on folding an uchikake for storage? Mine just came in the mail today and I attempted to fold it like a regular kimono, but there's no way I can get that padded hem to fold in more than two places. Should I just treat it like a kimono but forget about the fold along the center back seam, or is there a better way to do it?
Post subject: Re: :k [Knowledge] - How To Fold and Store Kimono & Wafuku
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:49 pm
Maiko-san
Joined: 28 Apr 2007 Posts: 558 Location: Finland
Another question, something that I've often wondered about...What kind of "acid free" paper is there? I tried to ask at a stationary but they didn't know. I know a craft shop that sells mulberry paper but it's expensive and the sheets aren't very large. How do you know what paper is acid free? Is brown kraft paper, for example, not an option?
As for storage, I actually have quite a convenient metal basket system in my closet (they're VERY expensive but I was lucky in that the previous owner had put them in) and I use one of them for my kimono stuff (still only enough to fill one deep basket). Not ideal to keep them dust free, but at least it's airy Since so many of my kimono are woolen, I keep a few cedarwood bits in the same drawer (to keep away moths; I found quite fun ones, shape like acorns ) although I keep them out of direct contact with my silk stuff, just to be on the safe side.
Another very "airy" storage option might be one of those basket woven chests/boxes lined in fabric; it don't know how practical they're otherwise though.
_________________ I wonder what it was I said that made Death reject me. (Planescape: Torment)
Post subject: Re: :k [Knowledge] - How To Fold and Store Kimono & Wafuku
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:30 pm
Member of the Month!
Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Posts: 734 Location: New York City
Ems wrote:
Anyone have any suggestions on folding an uchikake for storage?
The best folding for that is called something like "daimyo datami" or "issho datami", and is what we use for thick costumes.
I'll try to find pictures, but basically:
- Put the kimono on the floor with the collar to your left - Fold it along the side seams just like you would be going to wear it - Fold in the top of the collar - Fold the sleeves toward the body, along the seam attaching them to the body
Then there are a few different opinions. Some fold in thirds so that the hem does not touch the collar; some fold in thirds so that it does.
This link stand under How to Fold Juban - Furisode, but the juban is not a juban furisode...or does it not matter and can we fold a juban furisode this way?
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They look like they would let the kimono's "breathe", but I don't know if it would be good to protect them from moths and such.
*extremely desperate for instructions*
Should I just treat it like a kimono but forget about the fold along the center back seam, or is there a better way to do it?
Since so many of my kimono are woolen, I keep a few cedarwood bits in the same drawer (to keep away moths; I found quite fun ones, shape like acorns 
