Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Stasia Matsumoto is a professional licensed kimono stylist in Asakusa, Tokyo, who provides people with the full authentic kimono experience and photoshoots.
Matsumoto owns a business that rents out authentic, vintage, or antique kimonos. However, unlike other kimono rental stores, she offers a full experience of the kimono that includes: personalized styling, hair styling, and a photoshoot.
She started off as a street photographer who was taking kimono classes on the side. The business started when she figured out she could combine both her hobbies into one. Her own interest stems from her admiration of the elegance of a kimono. She says that regardless of the type of kimono, “it is always classy and elegant” to look at.
According to Matsumoto, her store has kimonos in varying ranges. She has kimonos that are modern and casual, as well as kimonos that are almost a hundred years old.
The experience starts with a lecture in which she stresses the fact that “there is much more to a kimono than people think.” She enjoys educating people and sharing her knowledge about kimonos and how to style them. Prior to the session, she discusses with the clients their personal preferences and does her best to accommodate to their individual requests.
After fitting them in the kimono, Matsumoto also provides hair styling services. Finally, the experience is completed with a photoshoot as a tangible souvenir. The process takes the majority of a day, and Matsumoto says that she can fit “ideally three customers a week.”
Matsumoto notes that she does not want to cater to a specific audience and would like to welcome anyone and everyone to come learn about kimonos and experience wearing them the right way. Whether it is casual or fancy, Matsumoto tries to meet all reasonable requests.
In response to the Covid pandemic, she has been able to digitize her lectures, and has plans to write a book about kimonos.
“There are no comprehensive sources in English,” she says.
She has also started a website, a Patreon account, and an Instagram account where her work can be found.