{"id":74590,"date":"2020-11-30T10:06:47","date_gmt":"2020-11-30T01:06:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=74590"},"modified":"2021-08-27T17:20:49","modified_gmt":"2021-08-27T08:20:49","slug":"oriobi-recycled-japanese-obi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/oriobi-recycled-japanese-obi\/","title":{"rendered":"Oriobi Brings Japan’s Lost Treasures Back to Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The exquisite traditional Japanese kimono<\/strong> is a beautiful article of clothing. However, one often forgets its other half: the long belt-like obi<\/a> that elegantly binds the kimono<\/strong> to one’s form. Kimono and obi can be paired <\/a>in a seemingly infinite number of combinations of colors, patterns, and shapes. Like a pair of ballroom dancers, kimono and obi work together to make each other better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A beautiful obi tied in a large bow over a pink furisode kimono.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Upcycling Japan’s Hidden Treasures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Japanese have a word, mottainai<\/em> \u3082\u3063\u305f\u3044\u306a\u3044<\/strong>, which can be translated simply as “Such a waste.” Such a phrase describes the plight of Japan’s beautiful obi. As the interest in wearing kimono fades in modern Japan, so the lovely obi follows the same fate. They are stored in the dark drawers of old wooden tansu<\/em>, waiting to be handed down to a daughter or granddaughter, but sadly for some obi, that day may never come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Japanese<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is said that over 400 million obi are stored away in homes around Japan<\/strong>, many of which have gone unused for decades. A gorgeous obi embroidered with silk thread is sometimes used only once for a special occasion like a wedding and then put away as an heirloom. These wearable works of art<\/strong>, which took months to create, are now hidden from the world. Mottainai<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This sense of mottainai<\/em> is what motivated Mami, an artist from Shizuoka Prefecture, to explore the idea of recycling old obi<\/strong>. Her grandmother had sent her an old obi, which was beautiful, yet well used. Mami carefully cut pieces from the obi, stitched some pearls onto them, and repurposed them as a set of lovely coasters to use. Though her home is Western-style, the obi’s elegant patterns made an attractive contrast that only enhanced the beauty of her creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recycling Obi Without Destroying Them<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Still, Mami felt a tinge of regret in taking scissors to something that was created by another artisan for the purpose of binding a magnificent kimono with a graceful bow. What if she could compose a work of art from the obi without destroying it? She considered the challenge carefully, eventually settling on the idea of folding and twisting the recycled obi into elegant shapes<\/strong> that could be displayed hanging on a wall or sitting on a table. Thus was born Oriobi<\/a><\/strong>, a portmanteau of the Japanese words origami <\/em>(the art of paper folding) and obi<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n