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MOST POPULAR KIMONOS

Saturday, August 6th, 2022

The results are in for July and here is our list of the Top Selling Kimonos and Yukatas for the month. We want to thank everyone for the nice emails we receive. Your support and appreciation for this monthly posting prove to us that this is something you genuinely look at and look forward to.

For those who are new to this blog or our company, we are Chopa.com – A.K.A. Your Kimono Source. We have been an online purveyor of authentic Japanese Kimonos and Yukata robes since 1994. Our love for these garments spread to friends and acquaintances many years ago and here we are, loving what we do every day.

This list highlights just five of our best-selling Kimonos. We offer over 100 different styles and colors of quality cotton robes and loungewear imported directly from Japan. These handmade robes are crafted by experienced craftspeople. The kimono is both stylish and comfortable. They have beautiful patterns that will look great with most outfits. You can wear it to work or school or even just around the house. Steeped in symbolism and color, you’re sure to find one that matches your style perfectly.  Shop online 24 hours a day at our online Kimono Shop.

Our customers decide through their purchases. Here is the list:

  1. Yukata – Tree of Life. This ever-popular men’s yukata is part of our Premium Collection. This collection features higher-quality fabrics and prints. Available in six sizes.
  2. Black Kimono Samurai Robe. Crafted in fine 100% cotton broadcloth, this stylish kimono for men is perfect for lounging, martial arts, or meditation.
  3. Yukata – Dragon and Mt Fuji – Blue. It seems this pattern becomes more popular by the day. The dragon and Mt. Fuji are two of Japan’s most iconic symbols. This style is also available in black and both colors in the shorter length Happi Coats are also available.
  4. Yukata – Navy and White Bamboo. This women’s yukata is stylish and inspiring. In Japan, bamboo is symbolic of prosperity, purity, and innocence. What more could a lady ask for?
  5. Yukata – Sakura and Mt Fuji. This lady’s yukata is a favorite among our female staff members. The gorgeous blue background accents the colorful image of Mt. Fuji and Japanese sakura blossoms. Available in four sizes.

There you have it. With our large selection of styles and patterns, competitive pricing, and quick shipping, it’s no wonder Chopa is Your kimono Source. Now Get Your Kimono On!

               Sakura and Mt Fuji Yukata

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Posted in Kimono, Kimono for women, mens kimono, Plus size kimono, Yukata | Comments Off on MOST POPULAR KIMONOS

Where to Buy a Kimono (Part 2)

Friday, June 17th, 2022

Welcome to Part 2 of our blog on what to look for when choosing a dealer to buy a Kimono. In the last column, we pointed out how some retailers advertise in an unscrupulous manner.  Some of the things they do include being vague about where the kimono is made. Another trick is calling it a Japanese Kimono when it was made in China.

Now let’s dive into some other fun facts. One complaint we hear about is the shipping times. Dealers in Asia, Etsy, eBay, and even Amazon frequently state quick or fast shipping. But according to customers we hear from, it is often anything but quick. We are told stories of waiting 4 weeks or longer and rarely is there an apology.  A benefit of working with a US-based dealer that imports directly is their ability to ship quickly. Chopa prides itself on shipping orders within one day of order receipt with many shipping the same day. Chopa uses FedEx, UPS, and USPS and most orders arrive within 2-3 days.

It is also important to know what kind of fabric is used. Just like where the kimono is made, an honest dealer will state the type of fabric, whether it is cotton, silk, or polyester. Most customers prefer cotton because it is easy to care for and is usually machine washable. We have located dealers offering that claim cotton, but when customers receive them they are rayon, polyester, or some other type of fabric. This is also when some customers discover their Japanese Kimono was made in China because the tag said so.

Is the pattern the same in person as it was on the web?  This is another trick we see by dealers overseas. They show one type of design, but ship an alternate pattern to the customer.  This may be deliberate. Perhaps they ran out and consider substituting without the customer’s approval acceptable? Maybe they don’t care because they know once they have your money, they are in control and it is difficult to get a refund. Shipping an item back to China, Japan, or somewhere else in Asia is not cheap. Shipping costs go up every year and people in the USA usually pay more to ship an item overseas than people overseas pay to ship to the USA.

Communication with an overseas dealer can be difficult. There are often language barriers, time zone differences, varying hours, etc. Time and time again, a common complaint we hear is that an overseas dealer simply never replied to any email. Calls were not returned or calls to the number on their site were dead and not even in operation.

In today’s world of electronic communication, many companies don’t operate live phones any longer. Chopa decided to forgo its live telephone call center in 2021. Staffing a call center is expensive and over the years, we saw a downward slope in the number of calls each month and year. At the same time, we saw a steady increase in emails and texts. Add in the number of solicitors and Robocalls we received, it made sense to shut down live phone service. It was a difficult decision because we enjoyed speaking with our customers, but the cost outweighed the benefit so we took the plunge.

Cutting off live telephone service makes answering and responding to emails and texts that much more important. Customers want and deserve a quick reply to a question, a suggestion, or inquiry on sizing, shipping times, or in-stock availability. We do our best to answer every inquiry as quickly as possible, even on weekends, holidays, and evenings.

Our text service allows staff to monitor messages at random times through their mobile devices. All of the employees at Chopa are owners. As an employee-owned and operated business, you can assure that everyone here has the same work ethic to take care of customers. Over 28 years of doing this, we feel we are pretty darn good at it and even though we have the experience, we learn every day.

Chopa has a passion for the beauty of Kimonos and Yukatas. Our appreciation and admiration for these robes are worth sharing and we want everyone to experience this great tradition.  Be safe out there. Shop with caution and reason. Realize if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.  Just like paying the least isn’t always a good idea, spending the most isn’t always the best method either. Find a dealer that prices robes fairly and provides many other value-added services along with it.  Shop our ONLINE STORE anytime, anywhere, we never close.

Lightweight cotton cherry blossom yukata for women

Pink Cherry Blossom Yukata

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Posted in Japanese kimono, Kimono, Kimono for sale, mens kimono, Plus size kimono | Comments Off on Where to Buy a Kimono (Part 2)

Buying a Japanese Men’s Yukata?

Thursday, May 5th, 2022

If you’re looking for a way to spice up your loungewear wardrobe, then look no further than the Japanese yukata.

Do you find yourself looking for the best of both worlds? Comfort and style? That’s exactly how the yukata feels. Fashionable, yet functional. The Japanese yukata is more than just a robe. A yukata is a lighter-weight robe that can be worn during celebrations or festivals to show off its beauty while also serving as loungewear at home.

These Japanese robes have been around since ancient times for hundreds if not thousands of years. In modern times, the yukata has become a dominant factor in the world of loungewear. Made of high-quality soft cotton fabrics, it is breathable, not too heavy, and easy to wear and care for.

The gorgeous patterns and designs of authentic Japanese robes are created by distinguished artists in Japan. The designs incorporate original works with historic and traditional patterns. From tigers, Mt. Fuji, hawks, flowers, fish, mountains, trees, scenery, and similar nature-inspired objects, the result is a work of art that you can wear.

One of our more popular men’s yukata robes is the Dragon and Hawk design.   This men’s robe displays the dragon and hawk taking flight among Japanese Tsuri pines. Accented in gold and white and set against a black background. The robe has butterfly sleeves and a matching belt is included.

The Dragon is a powerful creature that can be found in different corners of the world. They are wise creatures that can be found all over our planet. Dragons are seen as guardians with destructive potential, but their protective nature symbolizes strength and bravery for those willing to take them on or need it most. This may explain why this animal has been associated so strongly over time by many cultures around our globe.

The way we see it now? Dragons represent intelligence and thus knowledge, creativity skills like artistry and design; moreover, they’re modest too: meaning shyness and modesty will come up when dealing directly with outside forces.

Because these dragons have been known fighters in battles past, long before any man was born, their spirit remains today among us humans because each one knows what bravery means.  They are bold fighters, and dragons represent a fighting spirit and nobility.

The Hawk is a bird of high spirits, great courage, and bravery. An old proverb says that “a wise hawk hides its talents.” Thus, the hawk is a clever creature that represents someone who’s successful but doesn’t believe in showing off all they have done. Instead, they maintain an airy estimation of what they can do best.

The Hawk pairs well with Dragons because they’re able to utilize these qualities for them not to get noticed by others. This aligns with what it means when paired together; the dragon symbolizes boldness alongside strength while also representing intelligence; this makes one a very talented but modest person!

Our authentic Dragon and Hawk yukata are skillfully crafted in Japan of high-quality 100% cotton with a shrink-resistant finish. This yukata is easy to care for and is comfortable to wear. We recommend cold water washing to extend the life of your robe and the beautiful design. It is available in four men’s sizes; Small/Medium, Large, Large/Tall, and XL/Wide.

Chopa – Your Kimono Source has been a leading online retailer since 1994. We are located in the USA and ship quickly from the northwest panhandle of Florida. Most orders ship within one business day. As a USA-based retailer, we have taken the hassles out of online Kimono shopping.

You can shop our Online Kimono Shop 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We offer a large selection of Japanese Kimono and Yukata robes for men, women, and kids. As a direct importer, we respond quickly and provide fast shipping.  Orders of $75 or more ship Free anywhere in the USA, including Alaska and Hawaii.

You will never pay customs, duties, or import taxes when shopping with us. We often hear the stories of customers who bought online from a dealer in Asia only to discover that shipping was not fast, but rather it took several weeks (if lucky) or months. Then they were faced with customs, duties, and import processing fees which added as much as 50% of the cost of the robe.

We also make returns simple and easy.  Don’t be fooled by the promise made by overseas dealers. A common complaint we hear is how they never respond or answer emails or worse yet, they refuse returns. Shipping a kimono back to Asia is expensive.

Shop our online store now!

dragon and hawk kimono yukata

              Dragon and Hawk Kimono Yukata

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Posted in Japanese kimono men, kimono for men, kimono male, kimono men, mens kimono | 2 Comments »

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