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Shōchikubai 松竹梅, meaning Pine, Bamboo, and Plum Blossom, is a motif known as the Three Friends of Winter because of their shared resilience and ability to thrive in winter.

松 PINE TREES

  • Remains green during the harshest winter

  • Symbol of endurance, constancy, and moral uprightness

  • Cloud-like shape comes from Japanese embroidery and design, often to simplify the spiky leaves

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Chôsui Yabu (Japanese, active 1830–1864). Three Auspicious Friends: Pine, Bamboo and Plum, ca. 1860. 

梅 PLUM BLOSSOMS

  • Blooms in the coldest part of late winter

  • Symbol of hope, renewal, and beauty emerging through adversity, with the promise of spring

  • Plum blossoms are traditionally drawn with five round, unnotched petals, distinguishing them from sakura

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Our main inspiration is traditional Japanese embroidery, a beautiful and fading art we hope to honor through our work.

竹 BAMBOO

  • Bends without breaking in strong winds

  • Symbol of flexibility, strength through humility, and resilience

  • Represented by bamboo leaves to often simplify the design

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The Three Friends are depicted together THROUGHOUT history as an AUSPICIOUS motif on clothing, art, and designs. WE decided to focus on japan's designs of this trio, ALTHOUGH the group is popular in china and korea as well.

ALWAYS REAL PHOTOS, NEVER RENDERS

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ALWAYS MACHINED, NEVER CAST

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