Welcome to Bura Bura

Bura Bura is a one-woman small business focusing on the mindful upcycling of vintage Japanese kimono fabrics. Each Bura Bura creation is thoughtfully designed with the intention of giving these precious textiles a new life where they can continue to be used and loved for years to come.

So how did Bura Bura come to be you might ask? It is something that has been years in the making. You could say that I didn’t even realise it was coming to fruition while walking along the path of life. Holly Ringland wrote beautifully in The Lost Flowers of Alice Heart, “…life is lived forward but only understood backward. You can’t see the landscape you’re in while you’re in it.” This was very much true for me.

I was always creative as a child - I have memories of trying to make clothes with fabric offcuts for my toys using a hand needle and thread, as well as drawing patterns on paper and cutting them out to make paper clothes. I learnt how to use a sewing machine in high school and took up many different creative hobbies over the years. I’ve also had an interest in history and other cultures for as long as I can remember. In my early primary school days, I was fascinated with ancient Egypt and would borrow as many books as I could relating to Egypt from the library.

In my later years of primary school, I had a friend with an older sister in high school. They had a sister program with a Japanese school and her family hosted exchange students. The parents had an interest in Japanese culture and had touches of Japan throughout their home. This was where I saw kokeshi dolls for the first time, which they had displayed on a tansu chest in their lounge room. They had a courtyard at the back of their house which was turned into a Japanese style garden. It was this friend who introduced me to Hello Kitty and Keroppi, and I instantly fell in love with these adorable characters. All three of these things were like nothing I had ever seen before and captured my imagination in different ways. As a young child this was something I didn’t give much thought to. It wasn’t until I was older that I realised many of the things I was drawn to or found interesting were connected to Japan.

After finishing school, I followed my interest in history and culture by completing a Bachelor of Archaeology and then a Masters of Cultural Materials Conservation. I believe this has given me a unique perspective in regards to material culture and the ways in which people interact with it. Although what I do with these vintage kimono fabrics certainly isn’t conservation of the pieces in their original form, it is a process of preservation. It continues the lifespan of the fabric in a way that was historically practiced – kimono fabric was a precious resource and once a kimono could no longer be repaired and worn as clothing, it was taken apart and used for other items such boro jackets and futon covers.  Even though the fabric is no longer in its original form, upcycling ensures the information held within the fabrics are preserved (the symbolism in the designs and colour choices, the type of fabrics and weaving techniques, etc).

My first overseas trip was to Japan when I was 22. As soon as I got back to Australia, I was already thinking about when I could return. I got my chance when I was selected to participate in the JET Program as an Assistant Language Teacher after I had finished my university studies. I was placed in a small town in Mie Prefecture, and it was a transformative experience that deepened my fascination and respect for Japanese culture. When I returned to Australia after living in Mie Prefecture, I maintained my connection to Japan by continuing to learn about the culture and visiting for short holidays.

One of my simple pleasures in life is going to a cafe or a park and reading a book. At some point in 2024, I grew tired of putting the book I was reading in a plastic document pocket to try and protect it when it was in my bag. It always felt somewhat wrong when I pulled a book wrapped in plastic out of my bag while at the cafe or park, even though my intention was to respect the book and protect it from damage. Around this time I had learned that historically it had been normal for people to reuse kimono fabrics for other everyday items when they became worn out and unrepairable. This gave me the idea to make a cover for my books from vintage kimono fabric. As I was making prototypes, it became apparent that making a typical book cover was inadequate as there isn’t standardised book sizing in Australia (or in other western countries as far I’m aware). That’s when I had the brainwave to make a wrap style cover that could adjust to different sized books. When I finished the first porotype, I thought it would also be perfect to protect and store my travel journals.

Later on I found out that approximately 500 tones of kimono were being discarded each year in Japan. This made me pause and think that perhaps I could help in a small way by making and selling the wrap covers I created, which would divert some of these fabrics from landfill or incineration and therefore extend the lifespan and preserve the information contained within the fabrics. I also had a strong sense that there would be other people out there that would find this style of wrap cover useful for their own books or journals and would appreciate and respect the vintage kimono fabrics I used.

Embarking on this small business journey, I have come to realise that interests and experiences throughout my life that at the time appeared to have no connection, were in fact leading me to the exact point of starting Bura Bura.

 “…life is lived forward but only understood backward. You can’t see the landscape you’re in while you’re in it.”   -The Lost Flowers of Alice Heart by Holly Ringland