In searching for photos of Sashiko/Boro, you may have wondered, “What is the Authentic Boro if what we do is ‘Boro-Inspired’ patchwork…?”. The Authentic Boro can be found in the Japanese history – created by many centuries and poverty that they had to use the textile heavily and kept mending it. It is true we cannot make the authentic Boro any longer – because it requires centuries of time of using it and mending it.
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However, it doesn’t mean that we cannot try to recreate the “Authentic Boro To Be” item. Keiko made the Boro Jacket for me to start the workshop in NYC. I wear it as often as I can, and when the Jacket get damaged, I mend it. Over and over again. It has been about 3 years since. When I continue this journey of wearing and mending, this will be the authentic Boro in future. It is impossible to make the Authentic Boro tomorrow, but it is possible to try. I wrote a blog about that on Upcyclestitches.com | Please check it out.
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Boro doesn’t have to be the Japanese fabric. So, if you keep enjoying Sashiko on denim, mending and wearing, it will be the next type of Boro – which I am happily doing so with my denim jeans.
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Again, even one piece of Boro has this much stories. I hope this explains how embarrassing it is to use “Kimono” for the underwear with knowing what Kimono is for the Japanese.
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日本の衣文化において、礼服としての着物との対極にあるのが襤褸なのかもしれません。どちらも同じ直線上にある「誰のものでもない」日本文化です。日本人が思う以上に、日本文化に憧れ（幻想）を抱く人は多いです。それは同時に、「金儲けのチャンス」と捉える人も出てきます。「侘び寂び」と名付けられた商品が目につくのも、それがお金になるから。これが文化の盗用の典型的な例かなと。今回のKimOhNoの件も、「着物文化」にある程度の理解を下さっている方からは、「やめてよ。恥ずかしい。」という反応があります。今回の件で重要なのは、Kimが商標登録をしたことは勿論のこと、その流れに賛同した人が相当数いるということ。襤褸も刺し子も一緒です。人気が出れば商標登録する人が出てくるかもしれない。だからこそ、「そんな恥ずかしいことするなよ」と多くの人が思ってくれるように、文化の情報発信はしていった方が良いんだろうなと再確認しました。僕は僕のできる範囲で。刺し子という小さい範囲ですが、これからも頑張る所存です。どうも日本語が遅れがちになってしまっております。蔑ろにしてるわけじゃなく、配信で話してしまっていて満足してしまっている感じです（笑）なので、纏まっていない雑談ですが、配信をご覧頂けると素の僕の思うことが伝えられるんじゃないかと。
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2019-06-29 22:32:16
Thsnk you for explaining this. The element of time is made visible. Wow. Such a beautiful piece. 🙂
私が、初めて着物を纏ったのはお宮参りの晴れ着でした。そりゃあ、記憶はないです。でも、写真の中に残ってます。一子目だったこともあり、両親や祖父母たちの想いもあっただろうなと思う。他にも着物との思い出もあるけど、ここでは割愛するとして。今、母親となり子を思う時、受けた愛と想いを、それと重ねることもある。それぞれの文化の中に、それを振り返られる習慣や節目があるとは思う、日本では、そこに着物という存在も大きく存在してることもあると知って欲しい。直接、伝える術がなくても、壊されたくない想いは抑えられないです。淳さん、この場を借りて、ごめんなさい。
This is wonderful. ✨ Thank you for sharing. I don’t like when words and traditions lose or are missed used, especially for a trendy fashion.
Think you meant “we can’t try” instead of “can try” in 1st sentence of 2nd paragraph?
What a wonderful idea. “The authentic Boro to be”. You will be a walking history in progress 🙂 You should document the Boro`s journey. That would also make a great book titel: “A Boro`s journey” Love, Christina
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Thank you for sharing this with us. Agree how ridiculous it is for a westerner to try to appropriate the word “kimono” don’t understand how she thought she could get away with it🙈 so embarrassing 🙁
I really like that mindset: nothing can replicate many years of use and repair, but we can make a piece that will start down that journey.
Thank you for this it’s a wonderful post both informative and thought provoking I truly loved reading it and appreciate the time put into it. I love the idea of an authentic Borough To Be just wonderful
Thank you for your explanation.
My boro hanten is made from family used fabrics, I wear it, use it as blanket, as pillow… And of course, still mending it. My passed away mum says to me she didn’t like my boro jacket because the stigma of wear mended clothing in her humble childhood. In my school when I was child, to wear mended clothing or charity clothes was a shame and focus to bullies. I love real boro spirit.