Life taught me that care is not an idea, but a daily practice of living—with tenderness.
For more than 40 years, I have shared this way of caring with others, first through food – Macrobiotics, and now through textiles – Sashiko.
Before Sashiko entered my life, I spent many years teaching macrobiotic cooking and working as a macrobiotic counselor. I loved that work and never imagined I would teach anything else. Then I was given the opportunity to teach Sashiko embroidery, and something quietly shifted.
Last year, I was deeply grateful to teach Sashiko workshops to over 200 people. I now teach Sashiko every month, two to four times, at places such as JACCC, Wildfiber Studio, Tortoise, and other venues. What began as a new experience has become an essential part of my life.
Sashiko Beginners Workshop in December 2025
What I love most about Sashiko is its simplicity. The basic running stitch can be learned by anyone, regardless of skill level. Yet Sashiko is also deeply meaningful. Traditionally, the stitches reinforced fabric for warmth and strength, while patterns carried wishes and prayers—for good harvests, protection from harm, and prosperity in daily life.
The repetitive, meditative nature of stitching fits naturally into my lifestyle. Stitch by stitch, Sashiko slows me down. It asks for presence rather than perfection.
Another reason I love Sashiko is mending—reinforcing, repairing, and strengthening something worn or damaged so it can continue its life.
My parents taught me to take care of my belongings and not to waste what I had. In Japan, we have the word Mottainai（もったいない・勿体無い）. It expresses a deep respect for objects and a quiet sense of regret toward waste. It is not only about saving things, but about honoring them.
Because of this, I tend to keep old clothes, cotton sheets, books, calligraphy paper, and other materials. Some of them have been with me for decades.
I still have a T-shirt from when I was 16 years old. That T-shirt carries the history of my teenage years. When I wear it, I remember who I was at that time.
Sashiko Mending socks and jeans
Sashiko mending creates visible, beautiful repairs on clothing, bed covers, and other fabrics. Instead of hiding damage, the stitches make care visible. I mend in order to keep what is precious to me—repairing, reinforcing, and strengthening so these textiles can continue their lives.
Each year, an overwhelming number of garments are produced, while landfills continue to fill with discarded clothing. Many items are worn only a few times before being thrown away. This cycle of overconsumption feels deeply disconnected from care.
Mending is a quiet but powerful act. It reduces waste, conserves resources, and shifts our attention from constant buying to caring for what we already have. More than anything, it invites us to slow down.
I want to support sustainability—even in a small way—by mending my own clothes and teaching others to mend theirs.
The clothes we choose to keep, wear, love, and repair carry our memories. When we mend them, we give them new life—and add new stories to the ones they already hold.
Sashiko Mending Workshop at JACCC
January 24, March 21, May 23, July 25, September 26 & November 21
Let’s begin by giving your clothes a new life, while gently reducing waste.
Love,
Sanae❤️
Sanae❤️