“Is Sashiko Sustainable Fashion?” It is a very good question. When I had a talk in FIT, a bright student asked me if Sashiko can be a solution to the pollution in Fashion. Well, it is(was) too big of an issue to discuss as a mere Sashiko artisan. I couldn’t return a good answer to them. I keep learning about Sustainability ever since. And Yes, Sashiko “can” contribute to Sustainable Fashion from several perspectives.
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Then, someone may jump to the conclusion saying “Let’s learn how to do Sashiko to save the planet”. Not so fast. It is important to learn “how to”, but the biggest contribution that Sashiko can do is an opportunity to change the “extraordinary” to the “ordinary”. Sashiko started as a primitive stitching for survival. “Whatever (with no choice)” was the ordinary. Over hundreds of years, many Japanese tried to make Sashiko “easier & better”. The trend of “Using whatever is fine because it is good for the environment” may make Sashiko non-sustainable as a culture. It may be too late, but I would like to try if I can make Sashiko Sustainable again.
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Please do not define Sashiko without trying to learn the culture behind the words. I am NOT asking them to not to use the word, Sashiko. I am asking them to acknowledge that Sashiko may be more than what they know already. Take a look at the photo. Some teach Sashiko to have knots at the start/end of stitching. There is nothing wrong with having the knots, but I want you to know we don’t make knots & learn how to. The issue is when the teaching is based on their “don’t/can’t”. Do they choose to make knots? Or they simply cannot do Sashiko without knots? (There are many stories about no-knots, too). Pictures of whole jacket available on the post on July 18th 2020.
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刺し子の当たり前？でも普通の感覚では不思議？日本の刺し子の中には、「玉止めをせず重ねる」という刺し子の知恵があります。玉止めして固定するのも良いし、重ねをして裏表綺麗にしても良い。もちろん、どちらでもオッケー。ただ、日本語圏外で教える時は、「刺し子は玉止めするもんだ」とは教えたくはないのてす。教えてほしくないのです。日本語だったら、重ねについて教えてくれる人は沢山いると思うからあんまり心配してないんですけど、情報が限定されがちな海外でだとやっぱり心配です。「選択肢」としての玉止め or 重ねじゃなく、「できない言い訳」を隠して教えてるとすると、それはやっぱり文化に歪みを生んじゃうと思うんですよね。知らないなら学べば良いだけですし。問題は知ってるのに都合で無視すること。
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2021-01-02 09:40:47
裏地をつけないときはどうするのですか❓
両方出来れば作品によって選べるのにと思います
刺し子をしたものは実用品で使用目的によって裏をつけないこともあると思うのですが、まずその前提が違うのかなぁ？重ねなきゃダメな訳じゃないけど重ねを知らないのは損だと思う。
I could not work out how to stitch without knots to start and finish with – so use them
I am trying not to use knots but I definitely need more practice.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, your culture and some more information about Sashiko 🙏🙏
I would like to learn “no knots”. Your work is beautiful and an inspiration!!!!
When I learnt embroidery as a girl, I was taught that knots are a no no and the methods to start and finish. I choose to use knots now but am always aware of the rituals and tradition I was taught as a child. Stitching evolves but we must always be mindful of why we stitch the way we do.
I guess when you think about your hand stitching in a fast fashion world you may stimulate sustainable practice. Maybe soon you can relate Sashiko to sustainable practice. Fashion’s been so destructive in many ways maybe it need a Sashiko artisan to talk about it 🙏🏼 thank you for sharing your thoughts! I keep thinking about your posts for many days.
Im panamanian 🇵🇦, our traditional dress involves a lot of embroidery and no knots, no knots anywhere so I kinda get your point. I just discovered sachiko and I want to give it a try because I really like the clean lines. I hope my experience with my own culture helps me with yours.
Happy New Year 2021, thank you for sharing your knowledge. Feliz Año 2021, gracias por compartir tus saberes. 💃