Sashiko is a traditional Japanese hand stitching technique used to repair and strengthen old garments or rags. The running stitch can be decorative and often times employs repeating geometric designs or tessellations.
We took the basic principles of sashiko and applied them to leather, using a saddle stitch (instead of a running stitch) on a flimsier, stretchier cut of leather that might have otherwise been scrapped, carrying on the mottainai ethos behind boro garments/textiles that utilized sashiko to prolong or give new life to pieces that would have otherwise been discarded.
The interesting part about using a sashiko pattern with a saddle stitch is that the backside of the stitch mirrors the front, unlike a traditional sashiko stitch (because of the uneven stitch to spacing length). We took advantage of this by backing and lining the leather to essentially create a double-faced sashiko stitch.
Finally, this wallet further "explores" with a new inside configuration with four staggered card slots that still only use a total of two layers, a la the Minimalist.
1 of 1.
• 4 oz Chestnut English bridle
• Outside lined with 2 oz natural veg tan
• Sashiko pattern punched and saddle stitched by hand using waxed linen thread
• 4 card slots
• Hand-burnished and finished edges
This product is part of our Explorations project.