BORO - The fabric of life

In July Ger and I visited the exhibition BORO - The fabric of life at the Museum für Ostaziatische Kunst in Cologne. (For more information on Boro, see bottom of this post.)

I was and still am very inspired by what I saw. Here is a small project I made after we visited the exhibition.

A bracelet with a handmade button.

Boro is the clothing that was worn by peasants, merchants or artisans in Japan from Edo up to early Showa (17th – early 19th century). In feudal times, the majority were peasant farmers. Not everyone could afford the lavish silk kimono and vivid obi worn by the aristocracy. Clothes were crafted from cheaper materials, but were no less beautiful than those worn by the upper classes.

Literally translated as rags or scraps of cloth, the term boro is also used to describe clothes and household items which have been patched-up and repaired many times.

Once clothing was made, it would be maintained throughout the owner’s lifetime, or perhaps even longer.

Cotton was scarce in Japan, but hemp was abundant.  Hemp would be homespun and woven into beautifl patterns. Cotton could be woven through the hemp fabrics to make it warmer.

(source: https://furugistarjapan.wordpress.com)

For more information go to https://furugistarjapan.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/boro-japanese-folk-fabric/