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Japan Times
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
A buzzing zine scene across Japan packs passion in multiple formats
Cartoons of salarymen mid-nap on the train and invented words to describe their sleeping positions; an illustrator's must-order coffee items while going through a breakup; a photographer's favorite playground equipment to sit on when feeling sad — anything is fair game as a subject for a 'zine." At Zine Fest , one of Japan's fastest-growing zine fairs, a fashionable, predominantly young crowd dots the space both behind and in front of the rows of tables that stretch on and on. They turn hand-stitched pages, try to read thumb-sized miniature books or listen to a cassette tape of field recordings taken in train stations, complete with a tiny booklet. These seemingly disparate items are all sold as zines, handmade, self-published media in small circulations. They have existed in some shape for much longer, known as dōjinshi and mini comics in Japan, or fanzines in the U.S., often created by a niche fanbase. Nowadays, zines are soaring in popularity and their audience have expanded in scope, changing the zine image from nerdy to trendy. 'Public awareness of the word 'zine' is growing,' says Ko Nakanishi, 46, owner of Zine Farm, the organizer of Zine Fest. The semi-regular market event started in Tokyo's Kichijoji neighborhood in 2021 and it has since expanded to over a dozen other locations across the country, in places such as Sapporo, Fukuoka and Osaka. The January Tokyo Zine Fest saw 500 different booths selling zines, up from 150 booths in March the previous year. At a recent Zine Fest, zines covered a vast array of topics such as salary men sleeping, commute poems and coffeeshop illustrations. The techniques and materials on display were just as varied, ranging from digital collage to handmade paper. | KIM KAHAN Over a decade earlier, Tokyo Art Book Fair (TABF) started out in 2009 under the name Zines Mate: Tokyo Art Book Fair . Now one of the capital's most popular indie book gatherings, its latest edition held at the Museum of Contemporary Art from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, 2024, saw over 24,000 visitors across four days, perusing over 300 booths, of which 60-70% sold zines. TABF also runs a podcast named Zine's Mate that interviews zinemakers and small publishers. TABF project manager Naoko Higashi says '(in the past few years) we've had a lot more applications from zine makers,' adding that she thinks that 'people are becoming more interested in zines and the number of people making them has increased.' Given the growing appetites, there has been an influx of places that offer zines year-round. In Tokyo, there are zine-specialist shops such as Ultrecht in Harajuku, Salt and Pepper, which specializes in photo zines, in Ebisu and Mount Tokyo (Mount), a shop for strictly Japan-based creators, in Komazawa, Setagaya Ward. Mount started in 2010 as a sporadic zine event and then, according to its spokesperson, Fumiko Sakurai, developed into a brick-and-mortar shop and gallery that shows around 130 different zines at one time on its walls. Zines are collected via an application open twice a year that anyone can submit to for a small fee. Sakurai says they accept zines from anyone who sends in their creation. Mount's aim is to give everyone, from amateurs to professionals, a chance to exhibit or sell their zines, resulting in a vast array of topics covered by zinemakers that range from teenagers to 70-year-olds. 'We display them all together, rather than splitting them into sections, to ensure that it's equal,' Sakurai says. The making of a zine There are extensive possibilities for a zine's format and despite a digital dominance in today's society, or perhaps because of it, there is a preference for the physical medium. Nostalgia-fueled love of the analog is a trend seen across markets: coffee table books are more popular than ever, interest in vinyl records is booming and film stock quickly sells out. Yuki Kikuchi, 34, a writer, photographer and zine-making workshop host from Tokyo, has noticed a growing interest in zine culture that he partially attributes to technology. 'These days, it's easier to access technology to create zines, which imbues an attitude of 'I can make them, too' in a growing number of people,' he says. Yuki Kikuchi holds zine-making workshops where he teaches participants how to make a zine only using their smartphones and a convenience store printer. | Shusaku Yoshikawa Kikuchi has been making zines since 2013 and running zine-making workshops in Tokyo and Okinawa since June 2024. He teaches around 40 participants at a time how to create a zine using only their smartphone and print it in the convenience store. During Kikuchi's 4-5 hour workshops, participants decide on a theme, make their zine, print it and share it in a mini exhibition. The resulting zines, while created using exactly the same means, all turn out differently — not just in content, but size and layout. In Kikuchi's workshops, his students use the free iPhone app Pages, but budding zinemakers now have a host of other free software at their fingertips, such as Canva and even AI image generators. It's not just software. Risograph (a type of layered printing resulting in a bright, hand-stenciled effect) printed zines are growing in popularity. Notably, Zine Farm started Riso Studio, a members-only risograph printing facility in July 2022. A window into a life Having run Mount for over 10 years, Sakurai has noticed a change in the content of the zines being submitted. 'During the pandemic, as people were inside the house more, the zines reflected this with a lot about feelings and diaries,' he says. 'Gradually, we've seen people start to publish zines about their holidays, shops they've visited, people they've met and so on.' One stroll around a zine fair confirms Sakurai's impressions as many zines are constructed as mini diaries, featuring thoughts from vacations and daily life. Others, however, may not seem personal at first, but reveal a lot of the maker's internal world as you dive in. Babe Hikari , 34, an office worker, has been creating zines of collages made with Excel for the past decade under a partial pseudonym due to the personal nature of her work. She made her first about an emotional breakup, but she's now moved toward tongue-in-cheek pop culture creations. A particularly memorable zine features Queen Elizabeth II's face, grinning in a bonnet, emblazoned with the words 'Miss You' across the front, printed just after the monarch passed away in 2022. She is joined by pictures of actor Leonardo di Caprio with 'My dream' written underneath his bust, rapper Snoop Dog ('Want to Smoke Everyday') and 'Home Alone' star Macaulay Culkin ('Always Alone'). Mount started as a zine event before its organizers decided to open a brick-and-mortar shop to showcase zines year-round. | KIM KAHAN For some artists, zines are a vehicle for creative experimentation. Yukiko Oka, 24, is a graphic designer who recently sold her risograph-printed zines at Zine Fest. Her works included 'Moji Motion,' which brings Japanese onomatopoeic words to life with slit animation as you slide a sheet across the pages. 'I've been making zines since I was in art college,' says Oka. 'Now that I'm working as a graphic designer, making them provides an enjoyment that is different from my day job.' Political zines are relatively rare in Japan. In countries such as the U.S., however, activism has been a long-running theme of many zines since they first began, as the self-published pamphlets were an effective way to spread a message quickly before the days of social media. While both Mount and Zine Farm told us that they do not deal with zines promoting any particular politics or religion, there are still places to find and discover activist zines such as Dig a Hole Zines in Koenji and Irregular Rhythm Asylum in Shinjuku. This increasing popularity of zines has enabled the emergence of zine categories, adding an extra dimension to some zine events. Zine Fest has started to cross-experiment with themed editions, such as adding a board game and a podcast corner at the Zine Fest on April 5 or the upcoming photo-centric Zine Fest slated for Aug. 23. It's the low barrier to entry and loose definition of zines that makes them accessible to whoever wants to make or find one. Whether at events, stores or workshops, zinemakers are always happy to share the one thing all zines have in common — raw passion. For more information on zine events and stores, visit , or check Zine Fest's Instagram account @zinefarmtokyo.
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
How to crochet your own £1,760 designer-inspired raffia tote
Materials list Size 2 crochet hook 1 x Large eye Darning needle or Wool needle 1 x sharp ended, large eyed needle 3 x Wool & the Gang Ra-Ra-Raffia 100g in Powder Blue 3 x Wool & the Gang Ra-Ra-Raffia 100g in Tropez Tan Small piece of Water-Soluble Fabric/Embroidery Stabiliser Fabric stiffener – I used Hi-Tack from Amazon Small sewing scissors, or other sharp scissors Difficulty level advanced Stitch guide Chain Stitch (CH) Slip Stitch (ss) Double Crochet (DC) Double Treble (DTR) Special Shell Stitch (SSS) skip three stiches, DTR 3 times into same space, then place hook into the stitch before and DTR 3 times, creating a shell pattern Pattern instructions and tips You will make this bag in pieces, ie back, sides, handle etc., satin stitch the monogramming on the badge, block and shape each piece, assemble into a bag and stiffen into the final shape. Each piece once made will need to be blocked in water, shaped and then will shrink down to the final size. NB Block carefully to ensure a perfect match with edges, squared corners and final shape. Once assembled the entire bag will be painted in stiffener. The amount of stiffener used can be to individual taste, depending on how soft or stiff you would like the bag. For best finish, create a simple cardboard insert for the bag when blocking, stiffening and drying so that it dries to the perfect shape Pattern BACK - PANEL Row 1 Chain 63 stitches in Powder Blue Row 2, Using Powder Blue, 3 DC followed by 9 special Shell Stich (SSS), 2 DC in, fasten off and cut raffia leaving 7-8 cm to weave in. From now on you will be using alternating rows of Powder Blue and Tropez Tan, crochet in one direction only. This will leave you with loose ends to fasten off and weave in on both ends of each row, this is correct. Row 3, Using Tropez Tan, 3 SC, skip 3 stitches, *SC into middle loop of SSS in row below, SSS into space between the two SSS in row below* repeat between * 8 times. Finish row with one SC into middle loop of SSS in row below then 3 DTR in to final space at end of chain. Tie off and cut raffia leaving 7-8 cm to weave in. Repeat Rows 2 and 3, 26 times, ending on a Powder Blue row. Row 27, Powder Blue, as Row 1. This creates two Powder Blue rows one on top of the other, the only non-alternating colour row on the panel and creates a shell edge finish for the top of the bag. SIDES Row 1 Chain 6 Rows 2 – 180 DC in each stitch, fasten off and weave in ends. HANDLES Make 2 Row 1 Chain 6 Rows 2 - 90 DC in each stitch, fasten off and weave in ends. FRONT - BADGE Using Powder Blue chain 40 Row 1 -4 SC in each stitch Row 5 3 ss, 34 DC into each stitch, 3 ss Rows 6 3 ss, then DC into each stitch until turning work before the last three ss from previous row Rows 7-8 DC into each stitch Row 9 3ss, 26 DC into each stitch, 3 ss Rows 10 3 ss, then DC into each stitch until turning work before the last three ss from previous row Rows 11-12 DC into each stitch Row 13 4 ss, 20 DC into each stitch, 4 ss Row 14 4 ss, then DC into each stitch until turning work before the last four ss from previous row Rows 15 – 16 DC into each stitch Row 17 4 ss, 12 DC into each stitch, 4 ss Row 18 4ss, then DC into each stitch until turning work before the last four ss from previous row Rows 19 – 20 DC into each stitch Row 21 3ss, 4DC into each stitch, 3 ss Row 22 3ss, then DC into each stitch until turning work before the last four ss from previous row Row 23 DC into each stitch from the previous row, fasten off leaving a tail to weave in. LETTERING Using a small piece of water-soluble stabilising fabric, trace the words for the badge on the fabric. Pin in place onto badge. Take a length TROPEZ TAN raffia and a sharp pointed needle with large eye, and carefully satin stitch the letters in place. Weave in ends securely. FRONT - PANEL Make as BACK PANEL up to Row 13, ending on a POWDER BLUE row. From here on, you will be crocheting each row while attaching the BADGE piece. It can be helpful to temporarily pin or tape the badge so that it is held in place while you crochet in the correct position. Row 14 crochet row as before until you have crocheted the 5th SSS, then ss into the right bottom corner of the badge and the 2nd stitch of the SSS below, then ss into the left bottom corner of the badge and the 4th stitch of the SSS below and continue the SSS pattern to the end of the row. Now the bottom of the badge is attached to the Front Panel. Rows 15-23 continue alternating colours each row and attaching the badge at each corner to create a diamond pattern. Row 24 begin row as normal with two SSS, CH 2, DTR,* CH 5, DTR* repeat from * 5 times then end row with SSS , ss, 3 DTR. Rows 25 -26 as rows 1- 13 Row 27 Powder Blue, as Row 1. This creates two Powder Blue rows one on top of the other, the only non-alternating colour row on the panel and creates a shell edge finish for the top of the bag. WEAVE IN LOOSE ENDS ON ALL PIECES SECURELY BLOCK Using your favourite blocking method, ensure: Both front and back panels dry to measure 38cm H x 36cm W and have squared edges and are not warped in any way Handles measure 56cm L x 3cm W Side and bottom strip measures 3 cm wide and 106cm L ASSEMBLY Slipstitch front and back panels to the side/bottom strip. It is helpful to temporarily pin the panels in place to make sure that when crocheted together, they are straight and match at each edge. Use darning or wool needle to securely fasten handles to the front and back panels. Handles are placed 9cm from edge of bag. STIFFENING Using your favourite stiffener, paint the front or front and back of the bag and handles. It is helpful to create a cardboard shape to insert inside the bag to ensure it dries to the correct shape. This is a good opportunity to do any final blocking for a perfect finish.
The Herald
28-05-2025
- General
- The Herald
Stitched with love: 67 Blankets brings warmth and dignity to Nazareth House
'I noticed when I picked it up that it's handmade with love,' said a resident. 'Thank you very much on behalf of the Sisters of Nazareth and the whole of Nazareth House.' Resident Fay Paul was visibly moved. 'I am thrilled. I cannot tell you — the colours are what I like. Nazareth House has been fantastic to me. I was a carer for my husband for 22 years. I needed help and they took me in with open arms. Now, to receive something so beautiful, I am so happy.' Lynton, a representative from 67 Blankets, highlighted the time and effort put into each piece: 'It takes about four months to make a blanket. There's a lot of work, but it's more than a blanket — it becomes a comfort, especially for older people. It's something they identify with. It stays with them.' Sister Sikholiwe Ngwenya of Nazareth House expressed deep gratitude: 'We are so happy, especially because it's winter. The blankets are beautiful and mean so much to our residents. Many of them have no visitors. Receiving these gifts feels like a blessing.' For Steyn and the KnitWits, it's about more than just wool and hooks. 'It's a movement for change in our world,' Steyn said. 'It's incredible what individuals are capable of.' TimesLIVE
Vogue
28-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Vogue
Weaving Through Guatemala: A Textile Lover's Travel Guide
Photo: Molly Berry My guide was Molly Berry, the California-born, Guatemala-based founder of Luna Zorro, a textile studio that collaborates with Maya weavers to create handwoven robes, striped throws, and one-of-a-kind vintage cushions—blending Berry's design sensibility with her partners' artisanal skill and experience, while ensuring fair wages and sustainable partnerships. 'I act as a bridge to connect us all to a global, evolving marketplace,' she says. 'I believe this is essential to the future of handmade; staying relevant and existing in luxury settings where the product is honored not only because it is beautiful and stylish but because it is an art form and a creative expression that holds a story of irreplaceable heritage.' Photo: Courtesy of Luna Zorro Photo: Courtesy of Luna Zorro Berry's small group trips are centered around Guatemala's textile legacy, designed to connect people to the handmade. 'Textiles are so integral to Guatemala; they became the focal point from which the trip unfolds,' she says. A former teacher, Berry scaffolds guests' experiences, offering hands-on introduction to dyeing and weaving before deepening the journey with experts, whose insights ground the process in cultural context. 'By the time we get to the market in Chichicastenango, we can look at a huipil with real understanding,' she says. Tucked inside a coffee estate on the edge of town, the Luna Zorro studio is equal parts showroom and sanctuary—and where my textile immersion began. On our first full day, we gathered in the sun-dappled courtyard to begin with a hands-on dyeing workshop—boiling pericón flowers and palo de vida wood into golden and terracotta hues, then hand-dyeing cotton aprons. Two master weavers demonstrated their artistry before letting us try our hand at a rustic weave. Lunch, prepared by Wild Daughter, was a vibrant feast: grilled vegetables, fresh salads, handmade tortillas, herb-infused sparkling drinks, and a chocolate masa dessert. Photo: Christine Chitnis Photo: Christine Chitnis The following day, we visited Casa de Artes, a gallery and boutique founded by Karla Ceballos's family and home to one of the finest private collections of traditional Guatemalan textiles. As a textile historian, Ceballos offered deep insight into regional symbolism, technique, and the evolution of Maya weaving traditions. Our time together culminated in a day trip to Chichicastenango, home to Guatemala's most iconic open-air market. Held every Thursday and Sunday, the market spills through the town's narrow streets in a vivid display of embroidered huipiles, ikat shawls, tzutes, and ceremonial pieces dyed with cochineal, indigo, and pericón. With my newfound education, I found myself asking better questions: What story does it hold? What technique was used: backstrap or foot loom? And perhaps most important, who made this? Photo: Christine Chitnis Photo: Christine Chitnis During my time in Antigua, I stayed at Villa Bokéh, a serene hacienda just outside the city and Guatemala's first Relais & Chateaux property. Six acres of lush gardens—home to ducks paddling across a lagoon and hummingbirds darting between blooms—give way to quiet corridors glowing with candlelight and the warm textures of Guatemalan textiles: vintage huipiles framed like gallery pieces, handwoven pillows in deep indigo and cochineal red, and ceramics placed with reverence.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The secret part of the charity shop you're forgetting to check for unique buys – I found a perfect dress in mine for £2
EVERYONE knows to check the bags and shoes section in charity shops for some amazing bargains. But there's a hidden section of thrift stores that people are forgetting to look in, and they're missing some incredible purchases. 6 6 6 6 Even Els, who's a pro at stumbling across hidden gems, admitted that she's never looked in the fancy dress section before. But she said in the video on her TikTok page that she's glad she did - as she ended up finding a one-of-a-kind, handmade gold dress for just £2. "Today I learned to never skip the Halloween costumes section," she wrote over the top of the clip, which showed her coming across the stunning outfit. The dress appeared to be leopard-print with gold detailing, with carefully encrusted gem cups and draped sections to make it even more flattering. The bottom was also embroidered with sparkling gem flowers - and Els managed to get the dress for just four Canadian dollars, the equivalent of £2. "Still in shock!" she captioned the video. She added in response to one question: "There is no tag, it looks handmade & the dress is not for sale, I'm sorryyy!" And the comments section was immediately filled with remarks from people stunned by her incredible purchase. "Looks very Roberto Cavalli," one said. "This is a professional belly dance costume, they cost hundreds of dollars!" another wrote. We went hunting in the charity shop's 'rag house' and were stunned by our discoveries - we found a £80 bag & £600 shirt As a third added: "I think this is ballroom Latin costume. "Look them up. They are soooo expensive!" "That and sunset pics at the beach would eatttt!" someone else suggested. While others shared their own similar finds in charity shops and on secondhand apps and websites. "Someone listed once listed a Emilio Pucci set as a clown Halloween set on Poshmark for $25," one wrote. "It haunts me to this day someone got so lucky lol!" Top charity shop tips for bagging a bargain Ross Dutton has been a manager for Crisis's charity shops for four years and currently runs the charity's Finsbury Park shop in London. Choose your area - As a rule of thumb, the posher the area, the better quality the clothes that are donated. Don't hang around - If you see something you like, buy it, as it'll likely be gone when you come back Look out for cut-off labels - Some of your favourite high street stores will have deals with local charity shops to donate stock that isn't sold during their own sales. Often part of the deal is that they need to cut the labels off the clothes. Stay at home - While some charities have their own site, like Oxfam and Crisis. many also sell from dedicated eBay stores, such as British Heart Foundation and Scope. You won't get the range of bargains that you would get in a physical store, but if you're looking for something specific it may be worth checking online too. "My fave dress was in the Halloween section," another added. "It's technically a black bird costume, but it's just a black dress with a strapless off the shoulder black feathered neckline. "I always check now!" "I worked at the thrift and everything fun/fur/sparkly/leather/baddie went into Halloween cause they didn't think it would sell," a third revealed. "Omg the shoessss too - there's so many good ones at Halloween!" "Halloween season is truly thrifting heaven!" someone else said. Els modelled the dress in another video, showing that it clung to her enviable figure and fit her like a glove. "Belly dance costume dress! It was made for you!" one gushed. "OHHHHHHHH MY GODDDDD!!! IT WAS EVEN BETTER THAN I IMAGINED!" another added. "You're not wearing the dress, the dress is wearing you - stunning!" a third commented. 6 6
