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UNIQLO and Studio Masachuka present ‘Sashiko: The Art of Japanese Repair Stitching’, an exhibition highlighting centuries-old Japanese kimonos and the embroidery technique originally used to reinforce them.

Among its regional adaptations is Tsugaru Kogin, which emerged in Aomori’s Tsugaru region during the Edo period, when farmers were only permitted to wear hemp kimonos. To endure the region’s harsh and lengthy winters, they began applying Sashiko stitches with cotton thread on hemp fabric for added warmth and reinforcement, eventually giving rise to what is now known as Tsugaru Kogin embroidery. Recently, Sashiko has attracted renewed interest for its sustainable focus on mending and reusing textiles, aligning with contemporary values of slow fashion and resource conservation.

This event is held in collaboration with rakra (ラクラ), a bimonthly lifestyle magazine named after the Japanese words for ‘joy’ (楽) and ‘living’ (暮). Rakra has documented everyday life in Northeastern Tohoku through more than 100 issues, preserving local traditions and insights.

Also participating is Maiko Ishita of Yume Miru Kogin Kan (ゆめみるこぎん館), who inherited cherished Kogin kimonos from her grandmother, Akiko Ishita, and combines traditional craftsmanship with modern approaches to ensure these techniques reach future generations.

Studio Masachuka, a London-based garment maker and design-focused collective bridging tradition and innovation in Japanese crafts, contributes additional insight into Sashiko’s enduring relevance and contemporary applications.

Ishita’s precious collection is on display alongside historical and modern examples of Tsugaru Kogin, complemented by interactive demonstrations that illustrate how a practice born of necessity continues to inspire creativity and cultural pride.

Photographs of Tsugaru’s landscape and its people are also exhibited, offering deeper context into the region and culture that shaped this enduring craft.

Workshop ticket: £20 (includes a complimentary UNIQLO T-shirt with custom workshop attendee Kogin embroidery design and a £6 discount voucher for RE.UNIQLO customisation services).