The word “Sashiko” has its own “foot (wing)” to fly away. Some say it is how the “culture” should be – keep changing. I agree that the culture should alter its form. However, the change has to be done mindfully & respectfully – not by someone’s filtering for their profit with offering the Instant Gratification. Sashiko is NOT the Japanese word for “Visible Mending”. Mending itself is an important part of Sashiko, but there is a series of stories around.
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I keep saying the above for a while – to share the cultural significance of the words “Sashiko & Boro” so that we can benefit more out of their (our) wisdom. As much as I do not like “instant” answers, I need to learn a better way to communicate. Since I am not a trained designer in any source, @canva helps me to keep producing a series of good photos & videos. I really enjoy their service & appreciate it. Today, I realized that there are 2 templates we can search in Canva with the word “Sashiko”. When I was a child, no one knew the word Sashiko. Now, even Canva (a platform with no intention to change the cultural content), carries the word. It is how popular the word became in the trend, and the reason I say “It is too late to speak up (without pain)” because everyone already understands Sashiko as “Visible Mending”. Sashiko will be another word like Sushi. The difference is… there aren’t many who can speak “Japanese Sashiko” in English. What is available in English is someone’s translation or interpretation already – and therefore, it has its own unique wings to fly.
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By speaking up, I receive criticism because the change has (almost already) been done. I say something uncomfortable & inconvenient to someone – and therefore, I say, it is too late to speak up “without” pain. It is sad that I need to go through this emotional labor to protect my own culture – but I hope I can contribute to this world by this recklessness.
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CANVAというサービスを耳にしたこと、ありますか？オンライン上で様々なテンプレートを使ってお洒落な画像や動画を作れるものです。デザイン性の欠片もない私。昨年末の登録よりめちゃくちゃお世話になっています。そんな超大型のデザインサイトにも「Sashiko」という言葉が出てきました。それだけ、この言葉が力を持っているということなんだろうと思います。信じられない。昔は孤独で仕方なかったのに。ほんと社会というのは自分勝手なものだなぁと思うのです。
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2022-05-07 09:31:24
I agree!
🙌👏 I also agree with you! A bit like it is the shibori too.
🙏🏼 keep speaking.
Thank you for speaking up and sharing some of your knowledge!
I appreciate the education and I enjoy learning. Thank you for speaking up.
Keep on teaching. It’s important. You are doing a good thing.
Thank you for doing this very important work of creating consciousness. Your words transmit the deep love you feel for Sashiko, and I find it inspiring.
I honour you and thank you for that labour. Thank you also for sharing your culture and true meanings of Sashiko and Boro
I use the word to others so they know what I am doing. When I stitch I just see myself moving the needle up and down, in and out. I go to such a wonderful place when stitching. A part of me goes into the thread. I am enjoying this so much.
One way I have tried to communicate it is to tell people that if there was a word for the activity of a family to come together, all generations, on Sundays to make fresh pasta, let’s say “Sunday pasta” and someone took a finished pasta dish and called it, or even a picture of it, Sunday Pasta, or made a premade canned version, or even a recipe, it wouldn’t be “Sunday Pasta” because it is about the activity and feelings and atmosphere too, it is more than the result. And so it is with sashiko as well, there is a rich culture and tradition behind it, and it means more than just sewing lines to make a pattern, and if we try to learn more about it we will also learn to enjoy it more and learn from the practice of sashiko too. I say it to help open the mind to see it as bigger and to make people curious and open to learn more. If you find a fault in my way of explaining how sashiko is more than the visual result I’ll gladly try to find another way!
Thank you for teaching us about Sashiko! I’ve learned a lot and I’m sharing it with others every day.
I’m so glad that I came across your website just when I was beginning to learn about sashiko. I appreciate the emotional labor you are doing.
Glad someone said sashiko is not the Japanese word for visual mending. 😮💨 刺し子とぼろは言葉の一人歩きしてますよね。それ以外も沢山ありますが。文化は変化するものとはいえ、時代や年代とともに自然に移っていくのと、力のある人達（西洋）で流行りにされて勝手に塗り替えられていくのは、違う変化だと思います。
Love the Logo and this wonderful story❤️