Shiny Shiny Gift Wrap!

Valentine's day in Japan is a big deal - even for me, the eternal romantic. Rather than giving a present and card to your lover, girls give chocolates to boys, and get nothing in return. You give shop bought chocs to men you respect, and homemade for men you love. I was therefore obliged to give chocolate to all the men in my office. Except that being in Japan (where gender equality isn't quite what it is in the UK) has brought out an inner feminist that I didn't know I had, and so I gave chocs to everyone in the office - 60 people! Yikes.

Despite being hopelessly and desperately in love with one teacher at school (whose out-of-tune karaoke rendition of MJ's "Heal the World" I will hold in my heart forever) I wasn't brave enough to express my passion to him by way of homemade chocolate (also, bf may not have been overly impressed). He got shop bought like everyone else. But I did enjoy hours of browsing the rows of tiny gift boxes, bags, ribbons, and stickers (favourite: "Imagine the happiness that feels the human it sees the contents after open the box)" that filled the shops in the lead up to the big day.

So I stocked up on pretty gifty stuff and spent hours playing with ribbons and shredded paper to soothe my aching heart. Look how pretty!

Aaah. I feel better now. Jewellery and ribbons always love you back.

A Tale of Two Brooches

So these are the culprits that set me off:

I nearly died when I saw them lying there in that dodgy shop that has since become my mothership, and resolved to rescue them from obscurity - I know, how noble of me!

I'd tagged along with a strong, willing Japanese guy with the intention of buying a fridge and having him carry it up to my 3rd floor apartment in exchange for pizza. An hour later, (and after an appropriate amount of squeeling, OMG-ing, deliberating, and rhetorical opinion-asking) I left with armfuls of random Hello Kitty appliances, vintage bags and sunglasses, a rather special Disney denim jacket, all birthday presents for the foreseeable future and the two brooches upon which I intended to base some kind of online shop. Strong, willing Japanese guy was less than impressed.

I can't decide which brooch I prefer, but the bow was the biggest bargain and I don't know why - bows are such a cornerstone of Japanese fashion! But I have to admit to having a soft spot for the bow, because I was wearing it the day I became an art project, and I just love the way she painted it:

I'm so excited because the jewellery I've found is easily as good as the high street, but cheaper. You also lose the "oh my mum has that necklace - Zara, right?" factor. And for me the best part - this is recycling at its best - nothing added and nothing wasted! These treasures are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

So I shall start my little experiment and try to spread the love and give people an ethical but affordable alternative to the norm. And if it doesn't work... well then golly I guess I'll just have to keep it all, won't I!

Hello World.

Well isn't this exciting? Here we are in blog land, a place I have never been brave enough to visit before. But I am so psyched about my new venture that I feel my usual outlets, obligated to listen though they are, have become somewhat saturated. Plus, there's only a certain amount of satisfaction to be gained from hearing your hairy, physics-geek, socks-and-sandals-wearing boyfriend saying "ooh yeah, that gold one's really nice" when showing off your new finds via Skype. I live in the remote city of Kuji, in the remote prefecture of Iwate, in the remote district of Tohoku, in North Japan. "Fashion" hasn't got here just yet, and I'm not holding my breath - it's too cold for starters. But I don't think you need a Topshop or an Urban Outfitters to enjoy getting dressed in the morning (although I would probably hyperventilate if I so much as saw a carrier bag for either right now) - I think the creative fashion forced out of us when we are bereft of satisfactory shops or funds is the most rewarding, satisfying, exciting, and real. And that's where recycle shops come into their own!

Everywhere in Japan, you can find recycle shops. They're a bit like charity shops, but the shop buys your stuff and then sells it at a profit. And you can find anything there. They are amazing and I am obsessed and guess what - we even have one in Kuji! It's crazy - all this magical untapped awesomeness just sitting there waiting to be drooled over - and ignored, because people in Kuji don't get it. They're old, they're from a remote area, they're farmers and fishermen and housewives and they have never heard of shabby chic. I wish I could just pick up the whole shop and plonk it down in the middle of London!

So in case you didn't guess it already, recycle shops and the treasures I find there are the inspiration for this blog. As my Japanese high school students would say "Let's good shopping!".

xxxx