Naomi Osaka wows Wimbledon crowd with kimono-inspired outfit

Naomi Osaka arrived on court to whoops and cheers in a floor-length ruffled gown inspired by Japanese ceremonial dress and, crucially, all in white. The dress was embroidered with cranes and cherry blossoms and she wore a traditional kanzashi hair ornament. The garment was created with Tokyo-based designer Hana Yagi from seven different textiles upcycled from pieces including vintage kimonos and a traditional shiromuku wedding dress.

A traditional obi belt completed the look, while underneath Osaka wore a white Nike performance dress that drew on Japanese kirigami paper-cutting with 3D floral motifs. She said Wimbledon’s emphasis on tradition inspired her to reflect on her cultural heritage: “You don’t have to see the colour of a kimono to know that it is a kimono,” and she cited Lucy Liu’s character in Kill Bill as an unexpected muse.

Osaka removed the long gown before facing France’s Elsa Jacquemot and played in a Nike dress adorned with seven 3D flowers with bejewelled centres; the outfit sold out within hours of its release.

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