‘Boro’ comes from the Japanese term ‘Boroboro’ which means tattered or repaired. A work of boro, as I understand, is something that is created over time. Boro is created through ‘sashiko’ stitching - this word means ‘little stabs’. Sashiko stitching can vary from being ornate to entirely functional. Although, as zen tradition holds, there is a beauty in the aesthetic of functionality.

In Japan ‘boro’ textiles indicated poverty and were for a long time a source of shame. Generally the Japanese are happy when others engage with their culture but we must be mindful of the sensitivities and aware of the limits of our understanding.

The workshop I offer is a Western translation or adaptation of this Japanese tradition. For us, here and now, it represents a new relationship with our textiles and a renewed relationship with the self.

Tenderly we repair these signs of wear and tear;
Incorporate them into something whole.
Upholding that which life has bestowed upon us,
- when did this old thing become renewed?