Did you know?

• Sashiko literally means "little stabs" and was invented by Japanese farmers to turn old scraps into warm, armored clothing?
• The iconic white-on-blue Sashiko look exists because working-class Japanese people were once legally banned from wearing bright colors?
• Sashiko geometric patterns aren't just for looks; they were originally stitched as lucky charms to protect the wearer from harm
• Ancient Japanese firefighters wore heavy Sashiko coats soaked in water to act as a fire-resistant shield against flames
• In traditional Sashiko, the stitches are meticulously spaced so they never actually touch or cross at the corners