Recycling: It's as Old as Time

Recycled Japanese coat: Practical but also art

Most people probably consider recycling a relatively recent trend. But actually it has been a practice since the beginnings of civilization.

Today, on the final day of the exhibit, we viewed Second Lives: The Age-Old Art of Recycling Textiles at the Textile Museum, a small show visually capturing centuries of reuse of textiles.

Some of the recycling was the result of economic frugality. For example, women in ancient Pakistan would weave intricate decorative wall hangings from previously used remnants. Once those weavings became too frayed and tattered for display, they would be turned into floor mats or saddle pads. Once that use was no longer feasible, the remnants would be burned for fuel. 

Other recylings, such as those in Japan, were the result of higher concerns. In Japanese culture, there has long been a sense of deep regret when something is wasted, a feeling which derives from Buddhist philosophy. That led to sakiori - the Japanese title for the process of making fishing and farming coats and other garments from the discards of older apparel.

And still other recyclings were the result of lower concerns such as war. On display were Polish blankets woven from cloth that had once served as Iranian tent coverings taken during battles between Christian and Muslim opponents.

Tales, Tidbits, and Tips
We've said it before, we're going to say it now, and I'm sure we'll be saying it again - whenever you travel you have to be flexible. Today, on our Metro trip to the Textile Museum, we encountered both delays and unexpected station closings as the result of weekend line work. In fact, we couldn't even get to the station for the museum and had to walk to the center. No problem: you simply adjust. However, not everyone was magnanimous toward the Metro situation. When it was announced that the red line train we were on was going to be halted at the next station, the man in front of us shouted, "Goddammit, it's like we're living in a 3rd world country." And while I can understand his frustration, I have to disagree. A 3rd world country wouldn't have a Metro system.