Last update:
Tennis player Naomi Osaka played against Frenchwoman Elsa Jacquemot and won 6-1, 7-5.
News18
Naomi Osaka has consistently served, both with her fashionable looks and her game, in every single tennis match she plays. The 28-year-old played at Wimbledon recently and wowed the crowd with her form, which was a nod to her culture and the popular scene from the 2003 film Kill Bill, which she said she loves.
The tennis player entered the court wearing a white tennis dress inspired by a kimono, the traditional ceremonial garment of Japan, and worn by wrapping the left side of the garment over the right. It had long sleeves and was cinched in the middle with a belt-like fabric.
According to Vogue, the kimono was made by Tokyo-based Japanese designer Hana Yagi. This national garment was made by recycling old kimonos, a traditional shiromuku wedding dress, and a deconstructed wedding dress. Inspired by traditional Japanese images, the kimono was designed with cranes and cherry blossoms. When she was ready to start the game, Naomi Osaka stripped off her outer layers to reveal a regulation-compliant Nike dress with matching embroidery.
“I like to use fashion as a medium to tell stories,” the tennis legend adds, “Every outing is an opportunity to attract people into my creative world.”
Speaking after her 6-1 7-5 Wimbledon victory over French player Elsa Jacquemot, Naomi Osaka said: “When I think about Wimbledon, it's obviously the all-white team. Obviously there's the tradition of it all. In my head, when I think about it, I think about my cultures, my heritage, which is Japanese and Haitian.”
He continued, adding, “If I go deeper into Japanese culture, I think about the most iconic silhouette, which for me is a kimono. You don't have to see the color of a kimono to know it's a kimono. I was also thinking about my favorite movies. I love Kill Bill. I remember completely falling in love with Lucy Liu's character. She has a completely white kimono, and I remember thinking it was really cool. Then it all started from there. It was like my interpretation of that, and at the same time time to show a lot of respect and love to Japan.
About the author
Abigail Banerji is a senior deputy editor in the English section of News18. He brings 6 years of experience in print and digital newsrooms, covering editorial planning, reports, text editing, content…Read more
