Presented within the Mackintosh Suite of the House for an Art Lover visitor attraction, the exhibition places the kimonos (some 20-30) into the context of the Japanese influence on Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife Margaret Macdonald. Both were heavily influenced by Japanese culture, as was Glasgow at the time of their working, and the influence can be seen throughout the House. The kimonos, ranging in age from the early 1950s to more recently, will include those worn as day-wear as well as those designed for traditional ceremonial wear. The collection presents a particular social history of one Japanese family, which is illustrated through the kimonos and in the choice of materials, decoration and colour.

The placing of a personal collection of kimonos into the House will allow the visual connections and influence to become apparent and evident and provides a unique setting in which to present a beautiful collection of handmade items. The exhibition is also being presented in the context of the social and family history of Yoshino Saito Brown, allowing visitors a very personal and intimate insight into the life and use of the kimono, and will allow people to think about and understand them as more than just ‘museum’ like objects. Yoshino’s family history is intertwined within them all.

The exhibition is part of a larger project that aims to encourage audience engagement across our site and offering. The whole project will be presented as part of The Mackintosh Festival 2019 (01 - 31 October 2019) and has been organised to engage visitors to our site and Glasgow in a different 'conversation' about Mackintosh and his creative ideas.