Boro Inspired Tote Bag(15)

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 cotton fabrics in black, blues and greys.  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.   A sewing machine was used to insert the dark grey lining.   The bag has grey leather straps attached with gunmetal rivets.  There is also a magnetic snap fastening.

The approximate measurements of the bag are:  W11" x L11" or W28 cms x L28 cms.  The straps are an additional 8 1/2" or 21 cms.