Sashiko Embroidery

Sashiko originated from working class and remote communities. As a result of the low social status of these communities, people's lives were restricted by laws that only a certain social class could wear cotton and bright color clothing. (Cotton was introduced to Japan in 15th century but it was so expensive to afford for majority of citizens.) Suitable to their lives of labor outside of the home, the blue indigo dye which is characteristic to Sashiko was hard wearing and believed to repel insects and snakes.

At that time, clothes made from hemp were more favored in the areas of farming as well as the coastal and northern part of Japan where climates are severe. It was here that Sashiko provided such a practical purpose of strengthen and giving warmth to homespun fabrics. You see, this simple running stitch was born from the necessity of conserving and repairing garments at a time when cloth was not so widely available to farmers and fishermen. Contrary to its use today, it was not intended as decoration.

No, Sashiko was functional embroidery. Once garments were well worn to the point of looking like a rag, the good part of every garment was cut out then pieced and patchworked together to make a new garment.

Passed down from generation to generation, Sashiko was a skill learned at a young age. Later on, this skill would also be used to judge one's suitability for marriage. Wives made sashiko items at home, especially during the long winter seasons when outside work was limited.

As time went on, living standard got better and the introduction of man-made fibers changed the way ordinary people dressed. But rather than disappear all together, the focus shifted to more decorative rather than functional purposes.

Today, Sashiko became useful for surface embellishment on a single layer of fabric, and as an alternative to traditional western quilting. Sashiko is often used with patchwork or appliqué to create more complex designs.

For more samples of traditional sashiko used in more modern fashion, click on the picture below.

Until the mid 20th century Sashiko was the traditional method of making work wear in fishing and farming areas throughout Japan.

[Image property of Sri Partners and used with permission.]

Sashiko patterns stitched on garments were considered as spiritual protections besides its primary purpose of strengthening and giving warmth to the fabrics. It was believed that placing designs around hem of garments, sleeve openings and neckline prevented evil spirits to enter the human body.

Stitching applied to back neckline of baby's kimono served as a talisman to safeguard an innocent area. Some garments had small stitched symbols hidden on the inside of the garment to protect vulnerable parts of the body. Those stitched symbols were even seen in men western style jackets in 20th century as I have seen them in my grandfather's jackets.

Some Sashiko patterns have thousands of stitches crossing over. Those stitches are called me, or eyes. Me was thought to have strong powers for protection.

Image property of Sri Partners and used with permission.

Female divers carried simply stitched tenugui, or towels to keep them from harm.

During World War 2, soldiers wore a wide belt stitched by thousand women to defend them from enemy's gunfire, like the one below.

Image credit: http://needleprint.blogspot.com

If you're interested, please click on these links to learn more about traditional Sashiko design and instruction as well as more on my Japanese culture.