‘Kogin-sashi’, Japanese Needlework that’s Made to Last

Kogin-sashi is a kind of sashiko needlework, which is a form of traditional embroidery done by hand and developed during the Edo period. Historically, kogin-sashi was used to repair or ‘decorate’ an old, worn-out piece of clothing.

From the functional to the aesthetic

Farmers developed the technique, invented by women in the Tsugaru region in Aomori prefecture, northern Japan, out of necessity: they needed to make their hemp garments warmer and more durable. This activity then became more widespread.

As time passed, the function of kogin-sashi became purely aesthetic. The basic pattern used is called modoko and comes in around forty different kinds. These can be combined to create bigger and more ambitious geometric patterns. Japanese Brand Tohoku Standard, which makes its clothes by hand, continues the tradition by making garments using this technique.

More information can be found on the Hirosaki Kogin Institute’s website.