In Selvedge Issue 93 Rethink – and in the Community section of our site – we include a free tutorial from darning expert and knitwear designer, Hikaru Noguchi: How to do visible mending with Hikaru Noguchi. The lesson comes from Hikaru’s book, Darning: Repair, Make, Mend which covers twelve darning techniques in detail with step-by-step instructions. View the free tutorial here.

Hikaru moved to England from Japan in 1989 to study constructed textiles, specialising in knit, having previously taken a degree in graphic design at Musashino Art University in her native Tokyo. Finding a measure of artistic freedom and stimulation in England which she had not found in Japan, she stayed on after completing her studies at Middlesex University to take up knitted textile design work, developing new and innovative textiles for furnishings, scarves, bags and garments. This direction led to her collaboration with British designers including Tom Dixon and projects for Barneys, Browns, Paul Smith women, Takashimaya New York and many other stores.

Hikaru's work has developed to mix texture, colour and hand knit qualities with influences from traditional knit patterns and techniques, such as fair- isle, Aran, embroidery and stripe. Sources of inspiration are diverse, from flea markets all over the world to paintings of De Chirico. She seeks a look that is both sophisticated and quirky, achieved through unusual juxtapositions of colour and texture. Throughout, her fundamental theme is one of joie de vivre.

Hikaru will be taking part in our forthcoming online talk, Caring for Your Clothes, alongside Fashion Revolution founder Orsola de Castro, acclaimed costume conservator Zenzie Tinker, knitwear designer Flora Collingwood-Norris, and Icelandic textile artist and Ýr Jóhannsdóttir.

Follow Hikaru on Instagram, or find out more about her work on her website: hikaru noguchi – for very special furnishings, fashion accessories and knitwear

The Caring For Your Clothes online talk takes place on Wednesday 20 October: Book tickets here