What are Onesies and Kigurumis?

The booming fashion industry paved the way for a lot of fashion innovations and coined a lot of fashion terminologies and trend today. A minute difference in an apparel’s detail could pertain to a totally different garment. Not everyone is fashion forward and a lot of people could not even tell the difference between one outfit to another, I mean who can blame them, not all were blessed with a good fashion sense. (Amen to that!)

With a lot of emerging styles and out-of-this-world designs, not to mention the legion of fashion gurus and bloggers who set the standards on what’s hot and not, we are infinitely sure that we are not the only ones scratching our heads in confusion. Let us walk you through the details on two of the trendiest fashion apparel in the industry today: Onesies and Kigurumis.

Let’s get this out of the way, these two types of clothing bear certain resemblances but different in so many ways. Onesies, jumpsuits or overalls, came to light way earlier than Kigurumis. The term is generally intended for a one-piece garment or a bodysuit and is coined by the Gerber corporation which they then made a brand for their infant bodysuits. On the other hand, “Kigurumi” comes from two Japanese words; “kiru” (to wear) and “nuigurumi” (stuffed toy). Kigurumis are intended for costume performers and promotional purposes.

A comparison between Onesies and Kigurumis:

1. Their humble beginnings

• Onesies’ history can be traced back to 1940s, the years overshadowed by war. Its forerunner was the siren suit. Onesies made the scene in the 2000s. Steve Pandi donned a onesie as their rock band’s shtick during performances and the rest is history.
• Kigurumis originated in Japan before the craze spread like wildfire all over the world. Sazac manufactured the costumes and spearheaded the Kigurumi-costumes’ production.

1. Functionality

• Onesies are originally designed as sleepwear and loungewear
• Kigurumis are tailor-made as costumes and mostly worn during performances especially in theme parks. Nowadays, Kigurumis can also be comfy pajamas.

1. Significant Features and Descriptions

• Fabric – Both articles of clothing are made from cotton, fleece, terrycloth, satin and sometimes flannel.
• Sizing – Onesies come in different sizes from XS to XXL while Kigurumis are most often a One-size-Fits-All deal. Kigurumis are meant to be baggy and loose for optimal comfort. In addition to this, Kigurumis feature low crotch and sometimes a hood.
• Design/Style – Onesies are initially designed as sleepwear and offer simpler style and patterns. Kigurumis are detailed, often colorful and flashy, and available in various designs ranging from cartoons, anime characters, and fluffy animals.
• Market – Both types of apparels cater to the clothing needs of everyone, children, and adults-at-heart. Additionally, onesies and Kigurumis are available for both sexes.
• Popularity – Both took the market by storm and sales skyrocketed due to the audience’s warm reception.
• Availability and accessibility – Both are available in various online stores and most offer international shipping.

Okay, those facts may give your addled brain a breath of fresh air. Votes have been cast and the results are in, onesies and Kigurumis will be strutting their stuff on the runway this year!