Trying to compare plastic blocks to delicate fabric is quite literally like comparing chalk and cheese. They’re so vastly different that there’s really no way you can draw any parallels. One is known for its rigidity, the other for fluidity. One stays still, the other is guided by gravity and wind. One is quite literally a single visual stud, while the other can be as ornate as they come. LEGO and the intricate beauty of a Japanese Kimono don’t seem interchangeable, but this build by TheDriXx somehow brings the two together.
TheDriXx’s MOC (My Own Creation) combines the rich heritage of Japanese Kimonos with the minimal beauty and creative potential of LEGO bricks. This is their first ever LEGO MOC but it’s still managed to rack up upwards of 7000 votes on the LEGO Ideas forum. The build features two Japanese women draped in traditional garb. One could say they almost resemble geishas with their white made-up faces, but the focus of the build truly is the Kimonos themselves, which somehow transcend LEGO brick rigidity. They look gorgeously body-contouring, have a flexible fabric-esque quality to them, and even come with traditional detailing!
Designer: TheDriXx
The two kimonos build on Japan’s two most popular motifs – the blue kimono features motifs of the iconic cherry blossom or sakura, while the red kimono plays canvas to Japan’s own red crane. The detailing on the kimonos feels truly remarkable, including motifs of different shapes and sizes composed beautifully rather than just being placed in a grid (which is what most lazy MOCs would do). The kimonos feature the iconic wrap with the V-shaped collar, the waistband, and are even complemented by accessories like the Japanese umbrella and hand fan!
The models are as positionable as they come, with movable heads, arms, and even legs. The hair has changeable accessories too, and TheDriXx mentions that these kimonos are merely templates of what’s possible, so anyone can design and build their own patterns too. “Seeing how colorful and diverse kimonos are, I thought it would be great if you could create your own kimonos in LEGO format and display them in your shelf!” the designer says.
With 7,749 votes as of writing this article, the LEGO Ideas Kimonos is currently gathering votes on the LEGO Ideas website – an online forum designed for LEGO enthusiasts and fans to share their own creations and vote for community favorites. TheDriXx’s Kimonos are well on their way to hitting the 10,000 vote mark, which will then allow the MOC to be reviewed by LEGO’s internal team – and if all goes well, we could see it turned into a box unit that all of us can buy! If that’s something you’d like, head down to the LEGO Ideas website and cast your vote!
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