We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Wong and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have been interested in kimono and Japanese textiles ever since living in Japan in college. I lived in a historic town where it was common to see people out and about in kimono. I was also enamored with the dynamic modern street fashion happening in Tokyo at the time and did street fashion photography on the weekends. I loved the contrast between the very traditional kimono and the contemporary street fashion of the younger generations. I was and continue to be fascinated by the evolution of such a traditional garment in modern society. A year after I studied abroad, I was awarded a research fellowship to return to Japan to study the textile traditions of the indigenous populations in Okinawa and Hokkaido, Japan. This experience was transformative as I was given a unique opportunity to travel across the country for a month visiting museums as well as dyeing and weaving workshops directly to see how they make their beautiful fabrics. The level of artistry and dedication required to produce these textiles was incredibly inspiring to see.

I started taking classes in kimono dressing back in 2015. I was working full time as a costumer for film and tv during the week, and taking kimono classes on the weekend. Despite having learned a great deal about how kimono fabrics were made and their history, I wanted to get more practical experience in how they are worn. After asking around, I ended up studying through the Yamano school, which is based in Tokyo but has a network of teachers in Los Angeles. I ended up taking the beginning, intermediate, and finally advanced level of classes which ultimately provided me with my license as a certified kimono dresser and sensei. What started as a casual hobby has now become a significant part of my life.

Over the course of taking lessons, I realized that there are a great deal of garments and accessories that are required for kimono dressing. I built my personal collection slowly over the years, and in doing so developed a lot of resources for where to find them. What became apparent to me was the lack of suppliers in the US that carried these items, and particularly the high quality vintage garments that I preferred. I realized that the knowledge I had developed trying to build my own kimono collection could be used to help others get started as well. My business, BORO BORO, grew out of this desire to help fill this niche to provide high quality vintage kimono and fabric to those outside of Japan and educate people about how they are made and worn. I find that knowing the history and craft behind a garment makes it much more special, and I hoped that in educating people about what they are purchasing it will help inspire them to love these pieces as much as I do.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started BORO BORO in February 2020 just before the pandemic shut everything down, which was not the best timing! I had originally intended to do in person events, but with that option off the table due to lockdown it forced me to pivot and built out a website. The online shop launched in August 2020 and we’ve been going ever since. Now in addition to our website we participate in person at markets and events, as well as offering in person shopping via appointment at our private studio. We’ve shipped online orders all around the world, but my favorite way to connect with my customers in person! I love the opportunity to teach people about kimono culture as well as the craft behind how the textiles are made. I feel very lucky to have met so many interesting and creative people through my shop and hope to continue for a long time to come!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am a bit of a foodie so I think the main event would be going to some epic meals! Here are a few of my favorite spots:

EAT:
– Friends & Family: Fantastic brunch and baked goods
– Ototo: The best sake bar with izakaya fare and great vibes
– Phoenix Bakery: The oldest bakery in Chinatown, their strawberry cake is a forever classic, sold by the slice or whole cake. “Not too sweet!”

DRINK:
– Steep LA: Casual tea cafe by day, incredible tea cocktails at night!
– Dinosaur Coffee: Fantastic neighborhood coffee shop, I love the Kashmiri chai!

HANG OUT:
– Rose Bowl Flea Market: Arguably the best flea market in the country, I always find something when I go here.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My kimono school: Yamano Beauty College My kimono teachers: Sueko Oshimoto of Kimono SK and Tomoko Ishibashi

Website: www.shopboroboro.com

Instagram: @shopboroboro

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopboroboro

Image Credits
All photos taken by me except the photo of me posing at a Japanese temple, which was taken by Anji Salz.

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