Upcoming Price Adjustment for Sashiko Story Items
(A note from Atsushi, October 2025)
It has been six months since I shared the possibility of a price change following the new tariff rules for importing goods into the United States (read the previous announcement here). Since then, I have tried my very best to absorb the additional cost within our operation — hoping to protect our community from sudden change. I kept postponing this decision again and again, believing that there might be another change. But now, after careful consideration, I’ve realized that it is time to make an adjustment for the long-term sustainability of what we do.
I feel quite bad — honestly, it hurts — to raise the prices of our items. I know that each piece of thread, thimble, needles or fabric already costs more than the average Sashiko supply found online. However, what we offer is not simply "a product". It comes with a collection of stories, histories, and relationships — the result of many hands that continue to move with care and pride. To keep this circle alive, I must make a change. I would be deeply grateful for your understanding and support in this transition.
Starting in December 2025, after I return from the Sashiko Japan Retreat, I will begin gradually updating the prices of all items available on our websites. Every single item — threads, needles, thimbles, fabrics, and kits — will be reviewed carefully. The new prices will be higher than the current listings, but I will not make separate announcements for each change. Instead, my goal is to complete the updates by the end of 2025, so that the new year may begin with a fair and sustainable pricing structure.
For customers outside of the United States, I also plan to introduce separate pricing that reflects international shipping and customs differences. Regardless of location, though, the pricing will increase slightly to reflect both tariff costs and general inflation that has affected small craft businesses worldwide.
I understand that our Sashiko tools and supplies are often viewed as high-end within the market. Yet behind every tool we use, there is a clear reason — and a story that connects us to the original practice of Sashiko in Japan. “Thread does matter in Sashiko.” The quality of the thread, the sharpness of the needle, the comfort of the thimble — all of these directly shape the result, and more importantly, the experience of stitching itself. It is my greatest wish to continue offering these authentic materials so that our practice can remain honest to its origin and spirit.
What we have here is not a big supply chain. It is, rather, a circle of respect.
From the artisans who spin and dye the threads by hand, to those who weave and stitch the fabrics, to the blacksmiths and toolmakers who shape the needles — all of them are independent makers, not large manufacturers. Many of them are aging, still working quietly with dignity, hoping that their skills will continue to be appreciated somewhere in the world. Through our work at Sashiko Story, we are connected to their hands and hearts.
Because of this artisanal nature, our stock quantities are also limited. Each thread or tool takes time to create, and we prefer to keep the balance between what we can offer and what they can continue making. It is not efficiency that sustains us, but rather, appreciation. We are all working hard — in our own small circles — to make this culture stay alive.
I truly appreciate your continued understanding and support. The current pricing will remain unchanged until the end of November 2025. If you already know which items you would like to add to your collection, please consider placing your order before then. The prices listed now will be the lowest available, as I do not host sales or discounts. Instead, I choose to keep our value consistent and fair throughout the year.
My hope is that we can continue to be the artisans who provide the tools and materials that are used and cherished by the actual Japanese Sashiko practitioners — not as a luxury, but as a bridge connecting the past and the future of hand-stitching culture.
Thank you, always, for being part of this continuing story.
With gratitude,
Atsushi Futatsuya
Upcycle Stitches / Sashiko Story