“Boro” is now understood as the word for “patchworking” for ecological purposes – even as the technique to patchwork the fabric. Often, a practitioner interprets this concept as the way to “connect” recycled (vintage) fabric to enlarge the fabric piece. Personally, I do not think the core of Boro doesn’t exist in “connecting” the fabric t o make the fabric bigger. It is about “layering” the fabric, not only “connecting”. (There is nothing wrong with connecting, but I want to speak up the importance of “layering”).
☆
“Connecting” and “Layering” the fabric sounds similar, but quite different. Let’s say, “Connecting” is more like expanding our own world through adventures. It is more future oriented. “Layering” is more like understanding/accepting our own world through reflecting. It is more past oriented. In order to expand, creativity & challenge are important. In order to reflect, learning & acceptance are important. For me, Boro isn’t the word for creativity. It is a precious way to understand who we were, who I am, and who we can be in the future.
☆
It is not a story of good or bad, or even right or wrong. The words “Sashiko” and “Boro” carry more stories than you think – more than what is introduced now in English – or more than what one Japanese can offer. Unfortunately, there are no books written on this topic: therefore I am here. Almost one post per day – read our story as the “book” to understand my story of Sashiko & Boro.
☆
–
–
–
☆
本日の配信もありがとうございました！素敵な時間を過ごすことができました。当たり前の話なのですが、私達が感じる感情含め、全てには「理由」が存在します。言語として説明できるかどうかは別として、因果関係は常に存在していて、「好き」になるのにも理由はあるし、「ムカつく」のにも理由があります。それを全て論理で説明する必要はありませんし、また説明を求めるのも不必要です。
☆
その因果関係を理解する為には、ある程度の「過去の勉強」が必要です。未来を想像する為には過去を知り、過去を想像する力がなければと思うのです。残念ながら英語圏での刺し子の紹介、襤褸の流行には、この想像力が足りていないように感じるのです。想像力が足りなければ、未来も長くは続きません。少なくとも、刺し子や襤褸が持て囃されているような「持続可能」にはなり得ません。ただ、日本の物語を知ってほしいだけなのですがね。自分が正しいことを証明するのに必死の人が多すぎるのです。特に西洋文化では。まだまだ役目は続きます。
☆
2022-07-29 23:50:17
Your writing is by far the most interesting and intriguing I have found that in this platform. Thank you immensely…
Lindo!!!❤️
I appreciate the thoughtfulness, the care, that goes into your posts. Thank you.
Interesting and thoughtful essay! Thank you
Wonderful post! I love the thought of layering as a connection to who we are and understanding. Your posts always make me think ‘bigger’ about Sahiko and Boro and also about all handcrafted textiles from around the world. The story of cloth is amazing!
What a beautiful explanation of Boro!
Do I understand you correctly when I pick up an air of hardship or economic stress that is connected to the term Boro? If I understand your posts correctly, Boro was a method used to extend the life of garments because there was not money to purchase new ones. Is that correct? Is this part of what troubles you when people extract Boro from it’s context and make it simply a patchwork technique?
Excellent explanation 👏👏 Thankyou
Just a thought about ‘connecting’ fabric and ‘layering’ fabric – maybe ‘connecting’ fabric is a broad and non-specific term, which would include, among other things, ‘layering’ fabric – i.e., all layered fabric is connected but not all connected fabric is
layered . So, maybe connecting and layering are not so much different – but are more like Russian nesting dolls – where layering is nestled under and included in the more general word of connecting.
thank you so much, your words are beautiful, I have read them three times. They resonate so strongly, the layering of cloth as an analogy for understanding and acceptance through reflection… ❤️
❤️❤️❤️
Beautiful picture❤️❤️❤️
I understand what you mean when you say this work we all do is not just connecting pieces of textile .. mending .. and layering which is equally just as important . As I read your narratives , how interesting to see the parallel connection of Sashiko and boro To our lives . Very complex but so so interesting. Connecting to expand and layering to reflect everything we have gone through . But it never ends there . As our thread and needle continues to pass through our fingers each day .. so do our lives . .. we make our boro continuously , connecting , mending , stitching and layering .. until we can no longer .. ❤️ when I saw the complex layered long jacket given to you by your mother , I was in awe . I did not understand why at that time .. now I finally do . That jacket had your moms love , passion and many emotions stitched into it . Layers of life experiences and hours of sleepless nights . It is a treasure . And maybe your own stories will become part of it too . 💕