TOKYO, Japan: Japan's centuries-old kimono is finding renewed relevance in an era focused on sustainability, as designers and artisans repurpose heirloom garments into contemporary fashion and art.

A traditional silk kimono, literally meaning "worn thing", can last a century or more. Often passed down through generations like jewelry or artwork, its basic design has remained largely unchanged since the Edo period of the 17th century.

But today, some are reimagining these garments, transforming them into jackets, dresses, pants, and accessories, or carefully resewing them into entirely new creations.

"I noticed that a lot of beautiful kimonos are just sleeping in people's closets. That's such a waste," said Mari Kubo, who runs the kimono-remake business K'Forward.

Her company is part of a growing movement that also turns old kimonos into tote bags and dolls. Among her most sought-after pieces are remade "tomesode," formal black kimonos adorned with embroidered flowers, birds, or foliage along the hem.

Kubo often converts a tomesode (a formal kimono) into a jacket that preserves its long sleeves and intricate back design, pairing it with a matching skirt or pants made from a coordinating kimono. An obi sash might be repurposed for the collar. Many customers, she said, are young people who appreciate the kimono style without the complexity of traditional wear.

Prices vary. A remade "furisode," the long-sleeved kimono worn by young unmarried women, can cost up to 160,000 yen (US$1,000), while a tomesode redesign sells for around 25,000 yen ($160).

For designer Tomoko Ohkata, working with a vintage kimono is both creative and ecological. "I feel the answer was right there, being handed down from our ancestors," she said.

Japan's recycling centers receive thousands of old kimonos daily as families clear closets. While a kimono is still worn for special occasions such as weddings, western-style gowns are increasingly preferred.

Ohkata's Tokyo shop features handcrafted dolls dressed in miniature recycled kimonos, including traditional samurai and court figures displayed during Girls' Day on March 3. A pair sells for 245,000 yen ($1,600). Many clients, she said, want to preserve the stories woven into the garments.

At the same time, interest in wearing a kimono the traditional way is also growing. Nao Shimizu runs a Kyoto school teaching people how to dress and move in a kimono.

"Unlike the dress, you can arrange it," she said, demonstrating ways to tie the obi to express different moods. "In half a year, you can learn how to do it all by yourself."

She noted that younger generations sometimes pair kimonos with boots rather than traditional sandals, reflecting a more relaxed approach.

For musician Sumie Kaneko, who performs in dresses made from recycled kimono fabric, sustainability runs deeper. She calls it "the recycling of life."

"The performer breathes new life into them," said the New York-based artist. "In the same way, a past moment — and those patterns and colors that were once loved — can come back to life."