Sashiko Pin Cushion – Sasa

This pin cushion is hand-stitched using sashiko, a needlework technique established in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1867 CE), which involves embroidering patterns using small basic running stitches. Originally used for repairing and reinforcing clothing to increase its longevity and insulation, sashiko has become an art form in itself, used to decorate clothing with repeating patterns with motifs from nature. The pattern of this pin cushion is based on sasa, a type of short, broad-leaf bamboo native to Japan. Sasa motifs have long been used to decorate kimono as they are considered auspicious and represent resilience and strong will. The pin cushion comes in a handcrafted lacquered box made of paulownia wood scraps, left over from the company’s production of Iwayado Tansu, ornate chests of drawers with origins in the 12th century CE.