In me the tiger sniffs the rose. - Siegfried Sassoon

The English poet Siegfried Sassoon once wrote, “In me the tiger sniffs the rose.” It is a line that captures the beautiful, enduring contradiction of the human spirit: the capacity to be profoundly fierce, yet remarkably tender. 
We live in a world that often demands we choose between the two—to either armor ourselves against the noise or to remain vulnerable to it. But true resilience, we believe, lies in the quiet space where these two forces meet.

Fierceness in the thread. Tenderness in the form.

To understand the Tiger Lineage Collection is to understand a story of cosmology and comfort. In the ancient Meige epic《梅葛》 of the Yi people in Yunnan, the tiger is not merely a beast of the wild; it is the very architecture of the world. It is said that when the universe was formed, the tiger’s left eye became the sun, and its right eye became the moon. It is the ultimate symbol of primordial power. The Tiger Lineage Textile Charm is a palm-sized translation of this enduring strength. Crafted with dense, 3D raised embroidery in a palette of new, emotive colors, it carries a firm, sculptural quality.

Translating the cosmos. The left eye as the sun, the right eye as the moon—the Meige creation epic, sculpted in raised thread.

Yet, centuries ago, Yi mothers understood that the most profound protection does not come from rigid shields, but from soft layers.
They began translating this ferocious guardian into cloth, embroidering tigers onto children’s hats and shoes. Through hours of needlework, the most fearsome creature in the forest was domesticated by maternal love into a piece of "soft armor"—a visual and spiritual barrier against the unseen chaos of the world.

The original "soft armor." Turning the ferocious into the protective. 
Founders’ Picks: traditional tiger hat and tiger shoes for babies, available in store.

At YarnGi, we do not believe in replicating the past as mere folklore. Instead, we ask: how does this ancient guardian live in a modern context?
We found our answer late last year. During our winter offline markets, the Tiger Lineage Dawn and Dusk Guardian Pillows quietly became our most cherished pieces. We met expectant mothers who, moved by the ancestral myth, chose these pillows for their nurseries. 

More than decor. A tangible wish for a safe arrival.

They weren't just selecting a decorative object; they were bringing home a modern piece of "soft armor"—a tangible wish for their babies’ safe and healthy arrival. The 61,000 precision stitches of the shaped pillow became a quiet, protective presence anchoring the room.

A gentle watch over new life. The softest protection.

This profound resonance—the realization that we all still seek everyday talismans—inspired the newest addition to the lineage. We wanted to create a companion that could travel beyond the home.

Carrying the garden and the guardian.

It is designed to be a quiet thing to carry—hooked onto a leather tote, resting on a messy desk beside your morning coffee, or held in the palm of your hand as a tactile reminder to ground yourself. We carry the tiger to remind us of our boundaries and our resilience. We touch the textured thread to remember our capacity for grace.

A quiet thing to carry. Grounding your daily routine with a touch of enduring strength.

In a culture obsessed with speed, choosing objects shaped by memory is a quiet rebellion. Whether it is a Guardian Pillow anchoring your living space or a palm-sized charm hanging from your bag, these are personal artifacts that say you value stories that last.

Discover the design behind the threads. Join our community of slow living and explore the entire Tiger Lineage Collection—your portable and personal sanctuary.