In a show called Mending = Art (which you'll hear more about in the next post) I displayed a boro jacket that I bought in Tokyo, and a great pair of pants on loan from Michelle Liao*
*If you're in Phildaephia, go see the Liao Collection http://www.liaocollection.com/mobile/index.html
I'm probably genetically biased in favor of boro. My mother would save and mend everything. She had a favorite blue dress, which she modified, re-worked, mended, amended and then patched. She loved that dress, and after she died, I took it home, and turned it inside out to examine all her alterations....
Note the added collar, shoulder pads and lengthened sleeves with added trim. She even modified the shoulder pads. I understand. And I admit that I have a purse with just as many repairs - it's j-u-s-t right, and I can't find another like it.
Anyhow......keeping alive the tradition of boro - and my mom - I took this boro vest and added sections from my mom's dress (look on the center left side, there's a piece of the front dress collar) and a small photo of the dress which I attached like a pin).
Anyhow......keeping alive the tradition of boro - and my mom - I took this boro vest and added sections from my mom's dress (look on the center left side, there's a piece of the front dress collar) and a small photo of the dress which I attached like a pin). And on the back...
There she is! My mom, photo-ed into a picture of her dress, flying on her shoulder pads like a loony old Valkyrie. Yes, I wear this proudly. Want to learn more about boro?
Wiki will give you a bit more info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boro_%28textile%29
Boro: Rags and Tatters from the Far North of Japan, edited by Yukiko Koide & Kyoichi Tsuzuki is a wonderful book with lots of photos