The application "Kyozome Kimono Iro Asobi" in which users can change kimono's ground color as they like (Kyozome Oroshi Shogyo Kumiai, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto)

"Kyozome Oroshi Shogyo Kumiai," or a Kyoto kimono wholesale association, in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, has developed application software for smartphones and tablets in which users can change the ground color of kimonos on the screen to a color of their choice. A special feature of the application is that no matter what color users choose, the full image of the kimono can be checked at a glance. The association said, "We want even people who are unfamiliar with kimono to use this application with a sense of fun and get to know the high quality of custom-made kimono."

A total of 11 different patterns of kimono and obi, including long-sleeved kimono, semi-formal kimono and dyed obi, have been entered into the ground-color-change application named "Kyozome Kimono Iro Asobi." Users choose kimono or obi on the screen and touch the color they like on the color bar, then the kimono's ground color on the screen changes to that color. Moreover, users can also manipulate the screen to change the color's shade and contrast. They can change colors of some patterns in two types of kimono as well.

Until now, the association has made sample books and sold them to kimono shops. At a shop, they would show the sample books to customers and take the kimono order while listening to the customer's color design requests. However, even when requests such as "a brighter ground color" or "another color is better" were made, all the salespeople could do was provide a verbal description while using the sample books. So, the association developed the application software to mark the 50th anniversary of its establishment.

The free application can be downloaded from early February. They plan to increase the number of patterns sequentially in the future.

Shobei Terai, the association's director, said, "As the number of salespeople who can explain politely is decreasing due to a lack of knowledge, this tool will definitely be necessary in the future. I want association members, retail stores and consumers to utilize it."