Why a Chiso kimono can cost over $10,000

You can buy a cotton kimono for a few hundred dollars, but a handmade Chiso kimono can cost over $10,000.
It can take six to 12 months to make and requires over 20 steps.
We followed 10 artisans to find out what makes these kimonos so expensive.

Kimonos are known for being expensive, and a kimono from the Japanese brand Chiso is one of the most expensive you can buy. One kimono takes around 20 artisans over six months to make, and it can cost over $10,000. We followed the process of creating a handmade kimono, step-by-step, to find out what makes these garments so expensive.