The other day I went to see the exhibition “Boro: O tecido da Vida” (Fabric of Life) at the Mude Design, Museum of Design and Fashion of Lisbon. It was wonderful to discover the importance accorded to any small piece of fabric in Japan from XVIII century to half XX century. Using Boro technique of darning different and small fabrics, japanese people sewed very interesting and beautiful clothes, especially Kimonos.

Exhibition “Boro. Fabric of Life”. Kimono.

But what called my attention the most, was the sense of the value and preservation of materials, the elegant and simple aesthetics provided to their clothes, as well as the recycling process of life.

Given the current context of mass consumption (tendencies of renovating our closet each season with clothes without quality) because of the doubtful existing production process morally speaking, I honestly think that we must change our clothing consumption models.

DIY trends and the increasing number of fashion entrepreneurs, make me think the change is possible. Indeed, Boro technique is been seen as a wonderful and vintage fashion tendency. Despite trends and tendencies, Boro might be an interesting way of making things in a more sustainable way.

In this sense, the MUDE Museum organised in parallel an exhibition called Puras Formas (Naked Shapes), a project promoting as well the significance of preserving, reusing, recycling and extending materials´ life such as the aluminium used during the second war in Japan. In return, they created these wonderful objects.

What a beautiful surprise!

Should we start a new project?