What is Boro?
Boro (or boromono) means 'rags' in Japanese and refers to the clothing and textiles produced in rural northern Japan by repeatedly patching and mending cloth to extend its lifespan. It is closely tied with the philosophy of mottainai - a respect and regret for anything that has to be wasted, and was borne of economic and environmental hardship.
Although it is possible to see antique boro textiles in Japan, these are reasonably uncommon as they were not treasured or seen as beautiful once 20th century mass-production took hold, alongside the desire for increasingly more accessible modern goods. Many boro textiles were also lost to natural disasters or were not considered important enough to pass down the family, since they were seen as a somewhat shameful reminder of hard times gone by.
Recently, boro has seen a shift in perception, with changing tastes, the emergence of visible mending as a fashion trend, and in particular increased popularity in the West due to its appealing look on Pinterest, Instagram etc. For those who enjoy needlework, boro (and sashiko) are much more accessible and achievable than, say, Japanese silk embroidery.
Traditional boro textiles are patched roughly and from the front or back of the garment. Little aesthetic consideration is given to the design or neatness of the the stitching; this was practical work undertaken by ordinary women often in poor light, in order to clothe their families and keep them warm.
How to do it
To achieve a boro style, you can use old or new scraps of blue and natural coloured fabric (more loosely woven cottons or linens are better), perhaps with a few small pieces of red and orange for contrast, and cream sashiko thread. Other colours will add a 'pop' if you want a more contemporary twist. Stitches can be as simple as running stitches of varying length, although other stitches were also used for boro. Modern boro-inspired work can incorporate other sashiko patterns or follow the designs on the fabric patches.
You can mend holes in jeans, add interest to an old jacket, use your patched fabric to make a bag, cushions, wall hangings...and if any of them fall apart you can just do more boro on top!
Many people try boro style simply because there are few 'rules' and yet all pieces of work are somehow beautiful in their own right. Boro is perfect in its imperfections!
You can mend holes in jeans, add interest to an old jacket, use your patched fabric to make a bag, cushions, wall hangings...and if any of them fall apart you can just do more boro on top!
Many people try boro style simply because there are few 'rules' and yet all pieces of work are somehow beautiful in their own right. Boro is perfect in its imperfections!
SHOP BORO