From True Stitches Blog Nov 2011: "This handbag is made from the persimmon cured cloth used to strain the lees in sake-making. The fabric becomes like leather over its years of use."
Picture from Japanese Magazine: Kateigaho International Edition. I love what she writes about in terms of the appreciation of wabi sabi and mottainai. Check out her post: Beauty in Frugality:
"In refreshing contrast to the glossy high-end brochure I had trouble with in the last post, this issue of KIE delves deeply into the aesthetic of frugality and speaks eloquently about the beauty of reuse and repair and how connected these concepts are to Japanese culture. No fashionable flash in the pan, the Japanese appreciation of wabi sabi, mingei (folk art) and mottainai (respect for all things, using them so nothing is lost or wasted in the course of an object's existence) flows from spiritual belief imbued in daily life."
3 comments:
So this bag wasn't made with animal products? It would be great to have high quality and still affordable alternatives to leather. :)
I know what you mean Colleen! I like the idea that you can "invest" in a leather piece and take care of it and it will last for years! But it's hard finding the same in a vegan alternative.
What I have done is invest in one of Chrystalyn Kae's pieces (handmade in the U.S.):
http://greeneststuff.blogspot.com/2009/09/metier-work-tote.html
It is a bit pricey but I thought of it as an investment. I bought a cheap one (made in China) in 2006 and it only lasted three years. This one that I bought in 2009 is holding up amazingly and with the classic style I can use it for years to come! : ) She has many vegan styles:
http://www.crystalynkae.com/shop-by-style-vegan-bags-c-204_60
And if you ask to be on her mailing list you can be notified when she has sales.
I find out alot about vegan style options through this blog:
http://streetsiknow.blogspot.com/
(she has a search feature so that you can see what she recommends in the archives!)
The design is cute, but what I really like is the concept of mottainai: you don't have to be a hardcore environmentalist to want to reuse and repurpose things. It just makes sense and shows respect for materials.
Post a Comment