Unknown artist, Japanese

The Japanese mendicant monk’s robe aided its wearer, who would have been ritually mute, in communicating his role as he begged for basic earthly requirements and gave blessings in return. Patches and darns add to his message, just as they reinforce the secular Japanese work coat. An example of boro (ragged)—utilitarian items often made of valued indigo-dyed cotton—it shows both heavy wear and a loving hand that patched or added sashiko stitching to create a regenerated, strengthened whole. Though brand new, the G-Star RAW for the Oceans coat was made for similar longevity while also embedding meaning and care in its fabrication using Bionic, a yarn made from recycled plastic recovered from ocean and coastal environments. [See also 2018.40, 2016.96.3].