Clothing defines people. A person's attire, whether a sari, a kimono, or a suit, is the essential key to their culture, class, personality, or even religion. Founded in 1978, the Kyoto Costume Institute (KCI) recognizes the importance of the meaning of clothing from sociological, historical, and artistic perspectives. Currently, the KCI, which houses one of the most extensive costume collections on the planet, has accumulated a wide range of garments, underwear, footwear, and historical accessories dating from the 18th century to the present.

History of Fashion, which showcases the institute's vast collection, offers a fascinating journey through fashion of the last three centuries. It includes impeccable photographs of clothing skillfully organized and displayed on custom-made mannequins. This book attests that clothing is "an essential manifestation of who we are" and reflects the institute's passion for fashion as a complex and intricate art form.

The book's authors include some of the brightest minds and sharpest eyes among fashion scholars: Akiko Fukai (chief curator of the KCI), Tamami Suoh (curator of the KCI), Miki Iwagami (professor of fashion history at Sugino Fashion College in Tokyo), Reiko Koga (professor of fashion history at Bunka Women's University), and Rie Nii (conservation assistant at the KCI).