If you’re inspired by beautiful textiles and ready to start your kimono upcycling journey, I have curated scrap fabric bundles for you! Each bundle includes a wide variety of fabric remnants I’ve saved from my own creations:
👘Kimono Fabric Bundle
https://www.theobikyoto.com/product-page/kimono-silk-fabric-remnants-bundle-assorted-patterns-sizes-colour
👘Kimono Obi Fabric Bundle
https://www.theobikyoto.com/product-page/kimono-obi-silk-fabric-remnants-bundle-assorted-patterns-sizes-colours
These bundles are perfect for quilting, patchwork, Sashiko, Boro, or any textile project you dream of!✨

I’ve also put together some videos you might find inspiring:
- 🇯🇵Japan Fabric Hunting – discovering unique fabrics across Japan
🧡Hidden Nippori https://youtu.be/2CqVAvxAWAw
🧡DIY Tokyo https://youtu.be/_a-e-LCeGpo
🧡Yarn Tokyo https://youtu.be/CDK2gycC5sU
🧡Vintage Fukuoka https://youtu.be/W-BwyFh6ey4

- 🗻Japan Exploration – creative journeys and inspirations
💙Secret Kiln Village https://youtu.be/YVxw3rkeaqc
💙Nagasaki Embroidery https://youtu.be/3hHA1hOdaGw

- 🛍Haul Reveal
💚Kimono Fabric https://youtu.be/Lz-yXSiT9Fs
💚Japanese Cotton https://youtu.be/YakSG3d0vXw

- 🪡Sashiko & Boro Project – traditional Japanese mending and stitching techniques
💜Sashiko & Boro  https://youtu.be/IqRYWiAh73g
💜Denim Jeans https://youtu.be/rFuQS1V1n4Y

Happy Crafting!😘

This video is absolutely amazing! I LOVE how you weave history, poetry, language and culture into your creation. I love the explanation of different Japanese concepts and artistry as you reimagine, reform and honor the silk fabric. Loved it! What a beautiful way to honor the wife, the fabric and the artists who created the pieces. Truly moving. This is honestly one of the best craft/sewing/up cycling videos I’ve ever seen. Thank you. I’ve purchased kits and items from you in the past, and this adds another layer of beauty to the pieces.

Everything about this video -- the textiles, the weavers' skills, the husband's love, the principles guiding your approach -- is beautiful. Respectfully, thank you.

This was a beautiful way to make use of someone who meant so much and pass it on for others. What a way to honor the legacy of the wife.

So BEAUTIFUL!! I can only imagine how BLESSED the 3 ladies are who received them!

Your inherited philosophy and craftmanship are inspiring. I am a Western textile artist and potter, and things I do intuitively are given a deep historical voice. Thank you.

Hi there Risa 👋🏝 I really appreciate how... just like the rich, intricate weave of the silk kimonos... you weave for us in your commentary a rich picture of Japanese history, traditions, and artisanal skills. The spirit of this ladies precious kimonos is given a vibrant new life. Subarashii ✨️ Matane 🌸 and much respect from North Borneo 🏝

I love watching your process and listening to your narration. It feels like listening to poetry. And there’s the history behind the material and design as well. Thank you!

The bags you created are absolutely beautiful and will allow the soul of the fabric to live on . You are a true inspiration.

This made me cry,the thoughts and love that went into your work,you are a special person,of great worth.

Hi there Risa and everyone...from North Borneo 🏝  This looks so interesting 😮 Let's go ✨️

What lovely example of treating heirlooms respectfully and honoring their memory.  I do enjoyed learning the meaning of each obi design. Thank you for sharing.

Beautiful gifts made from such beautiful materials and memory's. I hope the husband can find peace,. Letting 3 generations of family share some of his wife's most meaningful garments should help on that journey. Very nice informative video. RIP to the lady who's silk you used.

Oh wow…..how exquisite! This is a particularly moving story. So wonderful that this family will have glorious memories of their sister and aunt. ❤

Your channel is so beautiful. Your commentary is pure poetry, and your artistry is exquisite. ❤

The grandmother's and mother's fabrics are stunning. The mother's fabric would be an unusual quilt block.

When I was a child, I was gently lulled to sleep with the wonderous storied of Ireland, Islands of lure, we had thousands of years of elfin people stories, Kings, and  children banished as swans, Queens, Knights, Damsels and pirate Queens the like of Queen Mauave, who held the British Queen Elizabeth 1st ships to tollage in the seas around our island kingdom.
We had the stories of Ternin Oag ( it does not translate so well) the little people who live at the bottom of our gardens.
I started my journey of respect for the Kimono over 30 years ago. I purchased many beautiful Kimono and repurposed them.
I still have a sealed box or two of Kimono in the attic.
I had to take precious care of the ones I deconstructed, as I felt it quite a bit disrespectful ( not to unpick, as I learned that is why Kimono is so softly hand sewn, so it can be unpicked, hand washed, and hand sewn back again) my problem was to cut through the artists work.
I eat honey the honeybee smells that is his/hers and wants his rightfull owned honey back and is armed to get it back
As too the precious silk, created by ingenious gifts of life, I give the threads that are too tiny for my hands to make use of, back to the little life all around us, to my insect homes I make of wood, cardboard, bamboo and whatever other wool, linen, cotton fabrics that are left.
Great care needs to be had here, as we know many precious fabrics like silk were and are protected from insect life by the use of harsh cemicals.
There is always a natural way to bring them safely back to nature.
On this topic of bringing safely back to nature, look into fungi, another fascinating life all around us.
I do love watching and listening to your unveiling of the spirit and meaning behind the symbolism woven within the silk Kimono and it's accoutrements.
Blessings ✨️ 🙌

I love all of the cultural insights that you've added!

I got chills at the end. Simply outstanding and beautiful. Your craftsmanship is god tier. ❤

Hello! I am from India and I too upcycle vintage textiles. I have made similar clutch 2 years ago to a client with her mother's wedding sari which was woven with pure silver :)