This October, the Heritage Museum of Asian Art, in partnership with the Abrahamic Center for Cultural Education, and the Japanese Culture Center, proudly hosted “Stitching Stories: Asia from East to West.” This vibrant pop-up exhibition ran from October 9–30, 2025, as part of Journey Chicago and Open House Chicago, and aligned with Chicago Fashion Week. The exhibition celebrated traditional and contemporary textile and fashion practices from across Asia.
Over three weeks, “Stitching Stories” offered a powerful exploration of how embroidery, fabric folding, and garment making serve not just as craft but as cultural memory, identity, and storytelling.
The exhibition featured a rich and diverse collection, including:
* A beautiful Kimono collection curated by the Japanese Culture Center, showcasing the elegance and symbolism embedded in Japanese seasonal dress.
* An exquisite display of Qipao (Cheongsam) from the Chinese American Museum of Chicago, highlighting the evolution of Chinese fashion and femininity.
* Palestinian Thobes from the private collection of Tatreez Jenin, telling stories of heritage, homeland, and resilience through hand-stitched embroidery.
* Contemporary, textile-inspired artworks by Chicago-based artists Hai-Wen Lin, Young Se Kim, and Sabba S. Elahi, weaving traditional techniques into new visual languages.
In addition to the exhibition, the museum hosted a series of well-attended workshops and community programs that brought the show’s themes to life through hands-on experience:
* On October 11, participants joined Mami Takahashi for a Kimono Costuming Workshop, learning about the cultural significance and seasonal elegance of traditional Japanese attire.
* On October 18 and 19, artist Sabba S. Elahi led a Community Embroidery Circle, inviting guests to stitch their own stories while connecting across generations and cultures.
* The Tatreez Workshop on October 18, led by Tatreez Jenin, offered insight into the Palestinian embroidery tradition as an act of resistance and remembrance.
* On October 19, Young Se Kim guided participants through an Obangsaek Workshop, exploring the Korean color spectrum and its spiritual and philosophical roots.
Throughout the exhibition and programs, “Stitching Stories” illuminated how textiles across Asia—from East to West—carry deep layers of history, identity, and faith. Every piece told a story of movement and memory: of migration, survival, celebration, and self-expression. The event served as a reminder that in every stitch, there is a voice, and in every thread, a connection.
Thank you to all who attended, participated, and supported this event. Your presence helped make “Stitching Stories” a vibrant celebration of community and cultural heritage.
Photography by Richard Cahan on behalf of Chicago Cultural Alliance.