Boro Inspired Tote Bag(8)

The inspiration for this tote bag comes from Japanese Boro work.  Boro was originally a method of repairing or reworking textiles, often by piecing, patching and stitching and it was a way of prolonging the life of a garment.  The patches would be stitched with Sashiko running stitches often in cream thread.  Today Boro and Sashiko are often regarded as an art form.

I used a combination of linen and cotton fabric.  As the edges of the patches are raw, some fraying may occur, which will add to the authenticity of the bag.  Each side of the bag is different.  I used cream Sashiko thread.  The majority of the bag was sewn by hand.  A sewing machine was used to insert the lining.   The lining is in Plum Essex linen.  The bag is boxed at the bottom.

The approximate measurements of the bag are:  W16 at the top and W9" at the base" x  L9" or W41 cms at the top and W23 at the base x L23 cms.  The straps are an additional 15" or 38 cms.