Fiber Artist Sophie Truong in front of her South End shop
Sophie Truong started out in international business but realized in her 30s that the arts were her métier, specifically, fiber arts. Born in France, Truong moved to Boston in the 1990s, where she worked for the Museum of Fine Arts for a decade.
Currently the owner of the SoWa store front studio, Stitch and Tickle, Truong was named the 2020 Best Handbag Designer by Boston Magazine, but years ago became enthralled by centuries-old Japanese mended textiles, known as Boros. She embraced the visible mending technique in her work, samples of which are now on display in the Library window.
Boros, which means “rags” in Japanese, describes futon covers or garments that people from the North of Japan would make out of hemp and scraps during the Edo period (1600 – 1892). In that era, “commoners” were not allowed to wear cotton so they layered hemp for warmth, and mended it to extend its lifespan. Every scrap was saved for reuse, and furoshikis (wrapping cloths) filled with rags and shreds, were a common gift for girls getting married.
Boros fabrics are dyed with natural indigo, both for strength and to repel insects, giving it a homogeneous palette. “Their abstract composition seems to have been born out of necessity or happenstance,” instead of design, says Truong. “The repetition of repairs, the numerous and overlapping stitches and patches are what make Boros so special. Nothing was wasted and you notice the hand of the sewer in every piece.”
As with her leather handbag designs, where the leather itself dictates what the product will be, Truong looks at the Boros stitches and mending marks as drawing lines for her own artwork stitching.
Her SoWa brick-and-mortar store - Stitch and Tickle- is located at 63 Thayer Street. To contact, phone 617 792-0792 or visit stitchandtickle.com