Shown: Khula Top and the Prana Skirt.

KALA COTTON

HANDWOVEN, ORGANIC, SUSTAINABLE

THE STORY

Cotton grows naturally in India. Up until the 1750s two indigenous varieties predominated: Gossypium arboreum (known as “tree cotton”) and gossypium herbaceum (known as Lavant cotton). Unlike conventional cotton, these varieties were native to the region and were well adapted to the climate. These fibres show up in textiles from the Kachchh region dating back thousands of years. 

More importantly, these local varieties were ecologically sustainable. They had adapted to low water requirements and extremely arid conditions. However, they did not integrate well with industrial machinery and so were neglected. Today these “old world” cottons are being revived and incorporated into handmade textiles where they are once again appreciated as the fibres that can be spun into the threads that make the most exquisite cotton cloth. 

Kala cotton. Now used in select Maiwa clothing.

KALA COTTON SCARVES

Organic Kala Cotton Scarf - Borders
Shirt: Khula Top 

Organic Kala Cotton Scarf - Stripes
Shirt: Khula Top 

KALA COTTON TOWELS

On the left: Organic Kala Cotton towel - Narrow Stripes 
On the right: Organic Kala Cotton towel - Wide Multi Stripes
Shirt: Khula Top 

Shirt: Shimoga Shirt - Organic Cotton - Grey Grid


 Shirt: Shimoga Shirt - Organic Cotton - Grey Stripe

MASALA QUILTS

MADE FROM THE BEST OF MAIWA'S HONEST CLOTH

Maiwa's Masala Quilts are your chance to experience the best of Maiwa's artisan cloth. Pieced together from the work of craftspeople located throughout India, these quilts feature naturally dyed,  handwoven, block printed, ikat, and resist patterned cloth.

This is the first time we are offering these quilts online. There is only one quilt in each style. Each quilt is unique.  The perfect compliment to any bed.

PICK A PATTERN

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BENGAL PATCHWORK QUILTS

NATURAL INDIGO AND RUNNING STITCH

Meet our newest kantha quilts: Bengal Patchwork. These are made from naturally dyed indigo textiles by artisans in rural Bengal. They are a wonderful wandering grid covered with course running stitch. We have paired them with a selection of cushion covers in two sizes. Both quilts and cushion covers have a playful, country charm.

LIVING BLUE

INDIGO

Living Blue produces its own natural indigo. Working with over 3000 indigo farmers in Northern Bangladesh, the group takes advantage of non-agricultural land to grow what is possibly the best known dye plant in the world: indigofera tinctoria.


Instead of forming the extract into cakes, Living Blue dries the extract in thin sheets - a clever innovation that results in small chips of indigo pigment. The chips are easily ground to a fine powder for dyeing.

Visit Maiwa's Living Blue Indigo here

Maiwa has been working with Living Blue since 2011. We hosted presentations by Living Blue at the 2012 Maiwa School of Textiles Symposium. In January 2013 Maiwa took a team of dyers and textile specialists to help troubleshoot artisan dyeing. That story was presented as the Threads Lecture for 2013. In 2017 Maiwa was able to offer training to Living Blue artisans as part of our workshop for Indigo Sutra. Now we are proud to offer Living Blue Indigo as one of our natural dye options.

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LIVING BLUE

Living Blue is located about four hours north of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. The rural areas are fertile but are in need of diverse employment opportunities.

Charllotte Kwon, founder of Maiwa making an organic test vat during Maiwa's 2013 visit.

Working with the senior artisans at Living Blue in 2013 to document vat recipies, dye techniques, and procedures.

Living Blue is well positioned to take advantage of what is, historically, one of the best indigo growing regions of the world. The growing demand for a natural source of indigo has the potential to empower rural communities, while also helping to support local dyers, quilters, and an entire network of artisans.

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Maiwa's Living Blue Indigo is available at Maiwa Supply on Granville Island

7 days a week between 10am and 7pm

and

Maiwa East at 1310 Odlum Drive Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. 

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OUR BANDANAS ARE BACK IN STOCK!

We are finding that our bandanas are in high demand. The size is perfect to explore an idea or technique. Many artisans are telling us that they can now effectively create a series for exhibitions and summer craft fairs. Best of all ... these bandanas are organic cotton!

Visit Our Bandanas Here

And Our Full Collection of Blank Textiles Here

Above: Womenweave Shawl "Woven Field with Red Border."

 Handspun cotton, handwoven into a lightweight shawl. The centre field is black with a grid of supplemental lines. The selvedge edge is finished with a dramatic red stripe. $149.95 CAD

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Maiwa shawls and scarves are also available at Maiwa on Granville Island 

7 days a week between 10am and 7pm

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MEET THE ARTISANS

WOMENWEAVE

Shown left:   Tulsi Pant - Midnight, Liberty Tank - Black 

Shown Right:  Tulsi Pant - Olive,  Rajasthan Top - Olive, Liberty Tank - Natural

Bag:  Leather Bucket Bag: Tan

Linen is one of the most challenging fibres to naturally dye. Maiwa was one of the first to revive the art of naturally dyed and block printed linen. We feel we've nailed it. Beautiful rich jewel-like tones that are deep and true. Light colours that are delicate without being weak. Natural dyes that show the true beauty of hand block printed fabrics.