As mentioned above, the kimono is the most representative textile-based item.
During the Edo period, almost all Japanese citizens wore kimonos.
Unfortunately, however, it is rare to see people wearing kimonos in general in modern Japan.
In modern Japan, if you walk down the street wearing a kimono, people will think it is a hobby, an event, or that you are a rich person, etc. It is unlikely that you will be thought to be wearing it on a daily basis as everyday wear.
There is no definitive record of when the kimono culture died out and when ordinary Japanese began to wear western-style clothing, but it seems to have gradually disappeared from their living environment about 100 years ago due to the flow of western culture and the convenience of western clothing.
For women who are now in their 70s or older, it was a kind of custom when they were young to wear a well-tailored kimono as their wedding garment.
So, after grandmothers pass away, many kimonos are often found in the paulownia-wood chests that were used to store kimonos.
Unfortunately, grandchildren would never have a chance to wear them, so there is often little choice but to dispose of them or sell them to a vendor.
However, expensive kimonos and kimonos that we have a special attachment to are the ones we would like to keep.
The trouble with kimonos is that they take up a lot of space and are difficult to preserve.
In particular, expensive kimonos are made of silk, and silk kimonos are easily eaten by insects and quickly damaged. For this reason, one popular craft idea is to remake just a portion of the kimono and turn it into a purse, hair ornament, etc.