Japan’s circular fashion using traditional Sashiko stitching and boro textile

What comes to mind when you think of sustainable fashion? Perhaps it’s vegan leather made from fruits and plants, biodegradable clothing or innovative materials. We tend to look at new technologies because the concept of sustainable fashion is still relatively new. However, some practices now popular in sustainable fashion trends have roots in tradition. One example from Japan’s fashion scene is the traditional stitching technique known as “Sashiko.”

What is Sashiko?

At first glance, Sashiko might seem like decorative embroidery. However, it traditionally aims to reinforce durability and heat retention of garments. Sashiko originated in the mid-Edo period (1690 – 1780), a time when garments were handcrafted and highly valuable. In the Tohoku region, unlike other parts of Japan, cotton could not grow due to the cold climate, making fabric even more valuable to local people. Hence, people reused old clothes and fabric scraps, which led to the development of Sashiko.

Today, Sashiko is better known for its distinctive patterns, and some people simply enjoy it as a form of embroidery art. At the same time, as the concept of a circular economy gains more attention, many in Japan are starting to recognize that a circular economy was already in place during the Edo period. Hence, there is a growing interest in learning from the circular economy of the Edo period, now referred to as “Edonomy.”

KUON: upcycling fabric scraps with traditional Sashiko

KUON is a fashion brand that uses the traditional Sashiko technique. In Japanese, “KUON” means distant past, future or eternity. As the name suggests, the brand incorporates tradition and history into its modern and timeless designs.

KUON collaborates with skilled artisans from a Sashiko brand called “Otsuchi Sashiko.” This brand was started by five volunteers in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture, shortly after the Tohoku earthquake in 2011, with the hope that female evacuees could rediscover joy and hope in life through needlework.

Thanks to the artisans’ creativity and techniques, KUON offers various unique garments. Their signature item, Boro jackets (Boro refers to spare or discarded scraps of fabric), are made by upcycling fabric scraps using Sashiko techniques, just as our ancients once did. Some other items feature patchwork Boro textiles as an accent.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by KUON_STORE (@kuon_store)

(Image: Instagram)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by KUON_STORE (@kuon_store)

(Image: Instagram)

After twelve years of collaboration with Otsuchi Sashiko, they launched a new project called “Sashiko Gals.” In addition to supporting women affected by the earthquake, they are now tackling new challenges, such as depopulation and the decline of local industry, with this new brand. Drawing on the skills and creativity honed over the past decade, artisans transform discarded dolls and shoes into new pieces.

As Sashiko gains global recognition and is increasingly seen as an art form, they seek to highlight its artistic and fashionable aspects, further boosting Sashiko’s global recognition and attracting a younger generation of aspiring artisans.

(Image: PR Times)

It is natural to look for new technologies and methods to build a better society, but sometimes looking back at our history and traditions can remind us of something important that we have forgotten today.