I am definitely not a master but love Sashiko and Boro which are traditional Japanese ways of repair.

Sashiko translates directly as “little stabs.”- normally a white cotton thread on an indigo fabric. This visible mending technique has been practised in Japan for thousands of years and stems from Wabi-Sabi - a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete. 

Why Sashiko?

Sashiko stitch is an antidote to the fast fashion world. It is used to reinforce points of wear on a garment and to repair worn places or tears with patches - creating Boro.  The running stitch is also used for decorative purposes. I use the technique for both and by playing with the stitch have developed my star stitch normally found on my shorts and jackets. Clothes stitched and repaired in this way can be said to embrace the concept of ‘Wabi Sabi'.

What is wabi-sabi?

Wabi-Sabi is all about finding beauty in imperfection. It’s about connecting to earth and enjoying the simple pleasures of life. It’s about recognising the importance of authenticity. 

We look at a piece of worn clothing and embrace the flaws and tears. These tell us the story of the garment. It’s history. Our job is to continue the story for future generations. Most of us have a pair of jeans that we treasure, no matter how worn they might be. For me, it's the breaks and tears that make our favourite clothes special. A great book to read is ‘Wabi-Sabi, for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers’ by Leonard Koren.