Otsuchi Sashiko Embroidery Adds New Value to Used Sneakers; Iwate Pref. ‘Gals’ Work Hard to Turn Old Shoes into Art

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Otsuchi Sashiko Embroidery Adds New Value to Used Sneakers; Iwate Pref. ‘Gals’ Work Hard to Turn Old Shoes into Art

Sneakers decorated with an embroidery technique called sashiko in a style particular to Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, create a variety of impressions on people: to some they seem innovative; to others they appear rustic. But their appeal is spreading, not only through Japan but to other countries as well.Sashiko is a technique involving stitching together layers of cloth that has been passed down across many generations in Japan’s Tohoku region. No…