Julie Fader

Adorning a scarf is like wrapping myself in comforting memories that make me feel held. Always loving, wearing and coveting my mother’s silk scarves as a young child, I watch my daughter repeating the circle now with my own.

I sat down with two scarves to write this.

One gifted from talented throat singer — Riit, who came to our home to make a record with my husband, having traveled to Toronto from her home in Pangnirtung, Nunavut. When meeting me, as a special gift and gesture, she gave me a gorgeous scarf with an image The Enchanted Owl by Nunavut artist Kenojuak Ashevak.

The other scarf was received when meeting Michiru, my long time childhood pen-pal from Kyoto, Japan for the first (and only) time. She visited Toronto as a grown up, and brought me the gift of a beautiful, elegant scarf from her home in Japan.

I cherish, appreciate, and wear these scarves to this day. To me they are a protection, an accessory, a force field, a gesture, a message of individuality, a meaningful gift.