Hello, today I would like to share with you the thoughts behind our latest furoshiki design.
From a young age, I’ve always loved flowers, a passion I inherited from my late mother. Flowers have always taught me about both strength and beauty. In Japan, where nature flourishes throughout the seasons, even the smallest flower holds a special significance. No matter where they bloom, flowers add color to their surroundings. I’m especially moved by those flowers that, like weeds, manage to push through the cracks in the asphalt to bloom with resilience. This reminds me of Zeami's Fūshi Kaden (The Flowering Spirit), where flowers are used symbolically. Zeami captured the beauty and ephemerality of the "flower" in the world of performing arts. The way a flower buds, blooms, reaches full bloom, and then fades away reflects the fleeting beauty of life, much like a woman’s life cycle. This unique Japanese aesthetic deeply resonated with me, and I wanted to reflect this beauty in my furoshiki design.
The theme for this design is the dandelion (蒲公英). For me, dandelions are a special flower. There are both native and non-native species in Japan, and both spread their seeds through the wind, taking root wherever they land. This resilience symbolizes the strength of women who overcome adversity and thrive wherever they go. Dandelions herald the arrival of spring, and their tenacity as they bloom on roadsides or even through cracks in concrete is a powerful symbol of courage to many.
During the design process, I worked closely with Sabrina Balbuena, who transformed my rough sketches into a digital masterpiece. It took nearly six months to refine the layout and composition. Sabrina is a print designer with over 10 years of experience, and thanks to her expertise and creativity, this furoshiki came to life. While digital technology played a significant role, the human touch was essential to completing this piece. While digital tools provide efficiency and precision, human emotion and intuition are what breathe life into a project. To complete one piece of furoshiki, the story woven into the fabric and the craftsmanship of the people involved play an irreplaceable role.
This furoshiki is not just a printed piece of fabric; it’s a work infused with the passion, effort, and wishes of many people. This is the essence of the "warmth of human hands" that we wish to deliver through our product.
Sabrina Balbuena’s Profile: Sabrina Balbuena is a print designer and illustrator with 10 years of experience in fashion and textiles. She is an entrepreneur and a creative professional who runs her own online print studio, collaborating with other artists to create standout designs for brands. Sabrina combines her passion for prints with mentoring programs, helping textile designers turn their love for prints into thriving creative businesses.