What is “Boro”? It is quite difficult to come up with the universal definition, but there are many stories to illustrate what “Boro” can be. Here is one, and on Reel. The more available in my workshops/class/Patreon.
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While “Whatever Patched with Stitching” is called Boro in recent trends (which isn’t really accurate), some argue that we cannot make the “authentic Boro” anymore. I disagree. We can make an authentic Boro when we understand what Boro really is. “Boro ” is NOT a word for style of stitching, is NOT a design concept, is NOT a convenient catch-phrase to advocate Sustainability. It is one “outcome” of endless stitching. When there are people & stories behind the stitching, which I hope there are when they call it Sashiko, it will eventually be “Boro” at some point. I believe we can call it “Authentic” Boro.
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It requires a bit of learning, though. We have to keep learning to connect the Dots in Japanese history, philosophy, mindset, and their (our) ordinary. Not many elderly people in Japan will find “Boro” as a positive word. So, don’t tell them that you are inspired by what they are wearing as “Boro” – it can be quite insulting. This one example is the tip of the iceberg. I don’t know how big the whole iceberg is… but I can tell you what it is, and we are here to recreate what “Boro” can be for us, for Japanese, and for anyone who wishes to learn & acknowledge what Sashiko/Boro is.
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数年前に予想した通りで、わかりきってた事だろうと言われたらぐうの音も出ないのですが、「襤褸」がBOROとなり、日本語でも「BORO」を「襤褸」も「ぼろ」をも経由しないままファッションの代名詞として、あるいはマーケティングのキーワードとして使われているのを目にする機会が増えました。「日本語がわかれば大丈夫さぁ」と言っているのは、長期目線での話です。流行がなくなれば、本質と向き合う人しか残らないから。でも短期的には様々な「(都合がいい)解釈」が出てきます。極論、「目立てばいい」「売れればいい」と言う最悪なカテゴリーから、「深く考えない」というライト層まで。日本人気質だと、ここで「黙る。流れを見守る。波風を立てなければ元に戻る」と言う選択肢が一般的です。このアカウントは、そんな空気を読まず、思いを伝える場所です。配信ではもっと直接的に。言葉数が少ないからと言って「想い」が少ないと断定してくる人達に踏みにじられてたまるもんですか。
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2022-06-21 23:14:43

I had no idea there was a negative side to the word. Thank you for sharing more than the surface level information so I can continue to learn and appreciate this art form in a respectful way!
@maayan_1999
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Thanks for this explanation, it is very interesting!
@kateatthelasthomelyhouse
Waouh 😍
Why is it insulting to some to refer to their clothing as “Boro”?
Interesting.