Day one concluded with hanks of yarns washed, mordanted and dyed. The hanks were left to dry overnight and in the morning they were ready to be washed. Many participants were anxious and concerned when we described the washing process - wash and wash again until there is...
Our latest video podcast just went up.Part 1 - PresentationRosemary CrillRosemary Crill explores "the cotton road", sibling to the well known silk road but largely dominated by India's traffic in cotton textiles. This episode presents the first part of Rosemary's lecture in which she explores the historic origins...
On the first day we meet the students and give an overview of what we will be doing during the week. We are lucky to have the services of a skilled translator. The instructions are translated into Arabic and volunteers who work with more remote villages will translate...
Before we can launch into five solid days of natural dye training we need to know what kind of situation we're dealing with. For a dyer that means one thing above all others: what is the water quality? Water can be either acidic or basic. The pH of...
Before the WorkshopDay OneDay TwoDay ThreeDay FourLast DayIn 2007 the Maiwa Foundation conducted a five-day natural-dye workshop. The students learned how to wash fibers and apply appropriate mordants for wools. They then created a range of colours from indigo, cochineal, madder, henna, cutch, chamomile and a number of...
The Maiwa Foundation encourages high quality traditional techniques and traditions. Its work consists in preserving existing work which may be disappearing and in helping groups regain the height of former skills. Increasingly Maiwa finds itself holding a wealth of knowledge in natural dyeing, weaving, embroidery, and blockprinting. This...
Over one-hundred people came out on June 25th to hear master weaver Kongthong speak about Laotian weaving traditions. The soft-spoken founder of Phaeng Mai Gallery from Vientianne, Laos, explained the deep connection between weaving and Laotian culture. "It is our gift to each other and to the world....
The music was fantastic, the food exceptional, the atmosphere exotic, and the Gallery full. Organizer Danielle Bush said, "The evening was magical, as always Chai brings together groups of beautiful people who share an interest in great food, music, dance, and who love to support a wonderful cause."...
2009 Maiwa Textile SymposiumThe Wrap Party & AuctionMaiwa HandprintsOur favourite event. The dyepots are exhausted, the last stitches are in place, and the ideas from the lecture series are still bouncing around. We put on a spread, bring in a live band, and let loose.The highlight of the...
2009 Maiwa Textile SymposiumSlow Clothes Fashion ShowBai Lou,Bleu de Lectoure,Qiviuk Boutique,and MaiwaSlow FoodLive Music fromPepe Danza and His BandFashion Show with garments available for purchaseBai Lou – Garments designed around the magic of the handloom, with techniques that have amazed and inspired since Roman times.Bleu de Lectoure –...
2009 Maiwa Textile SymposiumOn the Banks of the IchhamatiBappaditya Biswas$10Presented and Introduced by Bappaditya BiswasA Special Exhibition of Hand-woven Art Pieces Depicting the Story of the Blue Mutiny.The Ichhamati River (the name translates as whimsical or wishful) unites the two Bengals (now West Bengal and Bangladesh). Under the...
