My happiness doesn’t come from consumerism
An antique sewing box: Photo by Author Akemi Sagawa
Kyoto Art and Antique’s twice-a-year warehouse sale in Seattle is a great treasure hunt. Tea bowls, lacquerware, haori (kimono jacket) … I always find a precious item there.
In the fall sale this year, I bought this antique sewing box.
On the neck, a yard stick is stored.
When I took out the yard stick, I found something was written on the back of it.
三越呉服店 大阪支店 (Mitsukoshi Gofukuten, Osaka Shiten)
According to the website of now Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings, the company was called Mitsukoshi Gofukuten between 1904 and 1928. This sewing box once belonged to its Osaka branch, and is between 95 and 118 years old!
Despite its age, the box is perfectly functional. Made of paulownia wood, which is very light, fine-grained, and warp-resistant, all the drawers open and close just as smoothly as brand new.
Each wooden piece is meticulously planed and carefully joined together… Great workmanship.
After transferring all my sewing items (threads, scissors, pins, and needles) to this wooden box, a new motivation to mend and repair my old clothes emerged. I found some tears on the kimono I plan to wear early next year. OK, I will mend it tonight!
How many T-shirts and socks did I throw away just because there was a hole or small tears? How long have I been brainwashed that mass production and mass consumption are the only way to conduct our lives?
This 100-year-old sewing box made by a skilled craftsman has given me an opportunity to change the direction of my life, no matter how small it may be.