This teddy bear is crafted from a half-century old kimono fabric. To keep it safe from bugs and moisture, the kimono was folded and wrapped in washi paper inside of my family's old tansu chest in Japan.
One of my sisters wore it as an underlayer kimono to celebrate a 5-year-old milestone. I don't think it was overly expensive, but it must've been kept because of the sentimental value to my mother. But my sister can't wear it any longer, and no one wants it either. So I decided to repurpose it.
The pattern mimics shibori, an intricate Japanese tie-dyeing technique used to imprint a pattern- hemp in this case. Hemp is traditionally believed to repel evil spirits and protect the wearer. Therefore, it is very appropriate to be chosen as an underlayer kimono pattern for a child. I believe the material is rayon.
Scrap Artisan sources materials from thrift stores and closets of those willing. Because even if parts of fabric are stained or torn, it still holds the integrity to be upcycled. By recycling resources, we can keep them away from landfills. But this salvaging takes effort. It requires cleaning, disassembling, and sometimes reinforcing in order to bring them back to a workable condition.
Every item has a life- a story. The items Scrap Artisan salvaged are reborn to be loved, once more by you.
Scrap Artisan provides lifetime warranty. If the item you purchased requires fixing, take a picture and email it to ynagata@scrapartisan.com. If it’s salvageable, Scrap Artisan will fix it for free of charge.
