My goal is to share the Sashiko that the Japanese have been practicing. In order to achieve this goal, I share my knowleldge and wisdom on SNS, Youtube, and many other websites including contributions to the bigger media. Besides this goal, I have a dream to make Sashiko somewhat "sustainable" so that our next generation can keep praciticing Sashiko.
This Sashiko Pillow Case is the first step to make my dream true.
A hobby to Crafts
Sashiko have obtained its popularity as a hobby both in Japan and many other coutries. I am happy to see many people enjoy Sashiko as they wish. However, In order to keep the Sashiko practice as the sustainable culture, we need to secure the foundation of its practice. The mutual understanding of what Sashiko is may be required to do so.
The Mutual Understanding? Sustainable as a culture?
Please do not be intimidated by these words.
Simply speaking, we would need to advocate the value of Sashiko as a craft "all done by hands". We would need to keep the funds go around so we can support the thread manufacture, fabric mill, and Sashiko stitchers who spends so much time in this practice.
Anyone can enjoy Sashiko as a hobby. However, when the sustainablity in the long term becomes the topic of discussion, "supporting the rising artisan" become the top priority.
I have been teaching Sashiko in both English and Japanese since 2017 based on my 30 years of experience. Within Japan, we have completed several projects such as "Unshin Jacket" and "26 of Asanoha Sashiko". While enjoying our students' Sashiko, we occasionally offer "commisison work" for them to do Sashiko for us.
It is my goal to sustain this commission work as continuous project with wider acceptance so that we can offer more opportunities to rising artisans. I would like to keep offering a commission work so that they can shift their Sashiko from a hobby to craft, then artisanship.
I believe, this is how we can contribute to the Sustainable Sashiko.
Made by practitioners with high quality.
We ask our "friends (graduates of Atsushi's workshop in Japanese)" to perform Sashiko stitching on the Japanese fabric we provided to them. They complete our request, and we pay a commission to them. Sashi.Co and Keiko Futatsuya will make a "finished item" with keeping the quality high, both Sashiko & finishing.
Although we ask a job to the rising artisans, the product is hand-stitched by a practitioner of Sashiko with strict supervision of Sashi.Co. We will do our best to offer the high quality products with various character of Sashiko stitching.
*There is no such as thing as "Right" and "Wrong" in Sashiko. Therefore, I believe, there is no such a thing as "Good" or "Bad" Sashiko - there is only a preference. Many people prefer the even stitches, and we value the evenness the most as the "skillful" item. In order to be skillful, a practitioner needs to stitch more. In order to stitch more, a commission work will be a great support for them to keep stitching. This Sashiko Cushion is my challenge to make a foundation of sustainable Sashiko.
Sashiko Pillow / Cushion Cover
As the first item to make "Sustainable Sashiko" happen, we made a Sashiko Cushion with Asanoha pattern, all hand- stitching on. Again, the Sashiko stitches are not done by Sashi.Co or Upcycle Stitches. However, as you can see, the stitches are as even & beautiful as ours. We are so proud of the rising Sashiko artisans.
We have very limited amount of items in stock as of 2020. Hopefullly, we can keep offering the work to our artisans. Then, we will have more of the items coming along.
Product Information:
- Size: 46cm x 46cm (About 18 inch x 18 inch)
- *A square pillow is NOT included in the price.
- Front fabric: Cotton Fabric (Japanese Woven).
- Back fabric: Indigo Cotton Fabric (Japanese Woven)
- Hand Stitched by a Japanese Sashiko (to-be) Artisan with strict supervision by Sashi.Co & Keiko Futatsuya. Constructed by skilled artisans.
By purchasing this product, you are directly supporting the rising (to be) artisans in Japan. I sincerely appreciate you on behalf of more than 10 people who are part of this journey.
Sashiko is all done by hands. Therefore, the production line can be very flexible to accomodate your preference & need. We are happy to accept the bulk order to come up with lower price. Since all of the process is done by hands, we can accomodate your needs from choosing the fabric to sizing of pillow case.