ABOUT US

Our VISION

About SASHIKO.LAB

Based in Kyoto, SASHIKO.LAB is a small textile atelier dedicated to sharing the quiet beauty of traditional Sashiko.

Sashiko is often described as a form of Japanese embroidery, but at its heart, it is something much simpler and deeper. It is a practice born from everyday life — a way of reinforcing cloth, caring for what is already there, and stitching with intention rather than decoration.

At SASHIKO.LAB, we approach sashiko not only as a technique, but as a cultural practice shaped by time, hands, and lived experience.

OUR STORY

Over time, stitch by stitch

SASHIKO.LAB began its teaching journey in New Zealand.

In 2017, the atelier’s founder moved to Dunedin with her family, where sashiko was practiced simply as a personal, everyday craft. As family life settled and opportunities arose, she began offering small, home-based workshops, marking the start of its teaching activities.

After returning to Japan, SASHIKO.LAB was founded and began its activities in Kyoto in 2019, offering sashiko workshops and private craft tours . Following the sudden pause brought by the pandemic in 2020, the atelier shifted online, continuing to connect with participants through virtual workshops.

In April 2023, SASHIKO.LAB opened a home-based atelier in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district, creating a dedicated space for workshops and quiet making. The atelier became a place to gather, stitch, and share sashiko in a more personal setting.

Looking ahead, in June 2026, SASHIKO.LAB will relocate to a new space, allowing the atelier to welcome more visitors and expand its activities. Through this next chapter, SASHIKO.LAB continues its commitment to sharing sashiko with a wider audience, while remaining grounded in the same values of time, care, and thoughtful stitching.

LEARN MORE ABOUT RELOCATION

meet the INSTRUCTOR

Kazue Yoshikawa

SASHIKO.LAB is led by Kazue Yoshikawa, a sashiko practitioner based in Kyoto.

With a background in teaching, Kazue approaches sashiko as a practice shaped by repetition, attention, and time. In the atelier, guidance is offered gently and at an unhurried pace, inviting participants to focus on the process rather than the result.

Through workshops and shared time, Kazue aims to create a calm and approachable environment where sashiko can be experienced as a living, ongoing practice.