Several news stories said the kimono industry is shrinking. However, I believe that a number of people started to wear a kimono in the past few years.
Probably it means the conventional, traditional ways of sales method are facing a decline in their customers. Mostly because the high prices and aging customers. It also means traditional crafts and folk arts such as yuzen and woven fabrics are in danger of disappearing.
Meanwhile, a lot of people, especially young generation and non-Japanese people surely want to wear a kimono these days. As I mentioned, I've heard some started their kimono life in the last few years. They firstly buy kimonos at second-hand shops, flea markets and the internet. They can't afford high price products in the beginning. Conventional shops are unaware of this, they try to sell expensive products. Although a customer said his budget is 30,000 Yen, a staff showed him a 300,000 Yen kimono.
They, the new-gen customers, then, purchase middle or high price products after they know these products worth the price. We call it "Numa (Swanp)". Many people who love kimonos got stuck in the kimono swanp.
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