Man with a Mauve Dress

Previously we gave a little overview of some of the factors influencing rising cochineal prices. Like all crops, cochineal prices depend on supply and demand, with a number of complicated forces at work: Large buyers trying to keep the price low, farmers wanting a better return, unexpected demand...

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Weaving Resist, Woven Shibori

Catherine Ellis: Silk CurrentsSilkWoven shibori resist, scoured, permanent pleat This box arrived the other day at the Maiwa Loft. International first-class mail. We receive a lot of packages, many from locations all over the world, but this one was particularly interesting. It held a couple of prepared warps...

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Textile Importer Defends Artisan's Rights

From the Maiwa Archive. This story was originally published in the Vancouver Sun ten years ago on May 1, 2000. We are proud to say that we are still dealing with artisans the same way. The text of the article is reprinted here or click on the images...

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August Arrivals at Maiwa East

We've broken the seal on a new shipping container and unloaded some very beautiful items.We receive containers on a regular basis holding old furniture, carved doors & thresholds, teak cabinets, coffee tables, book cases, engraved water urns, ironwork chairs and tables, furniture handpainted by the renowned Abhi Shakar...

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Summer Things to do Outside: Indigo and Woad

Looking for a creative summer project? If you've never experienced the magic of dyeing with indigo, summer is a perfect time to try out a vat. We know some dyers (such as Jenny Balfour-Paul and Lucy Goffin) who make it an annual social occasion with two or three...

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Workshop Openings - The Hotlist

We have a few openings in all the following workshops. Click on the title for full details or online registration. Workshops run September, October, November 2010.For Dyers:Mudcloth with Michele Wipplinger Discover the rich assortment of colour that can be gathered and brewed from the earth's crust.Dyeing to Discharge...

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The Economics of a Colour

Above, yarns being dyed with cochineal in Teotitlan del Valle, MexicoOne of the advantages of being involved in the natural colour community is how quickly news travels. At the same time that our stocks of cochineal began to get low and we looked to order more, we began...

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