UNTIL OCTOBER 14th
HANDWOVEN UNDERFOOT
DRESS YOURSELF
IN PATTERN AND COLOUR
Now is the season of layered cloth. A time to revel in the pleasure of sumptuous layers of linen — patterned with block prints, or bandhani tied resist, or the solid shades of natural dyes, or the pure beauty of undyed cloth. These dresses are versatile and creative, all with the exquisite, buttery hand of Maiwa's favourite fabric — Linen.
To our U.S. customers – don't forget that the exchange rate works in your favour, it's like an extra discount.
Thursday, September 23, 2021
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As part of our commitment to encouraging exceptional needlework we commission large format embroideries. For many ambitious stitchers, these works give the necessary breadth to express themselves. A single woman designs the play of motifs, the border elements, the colour palette and they set to work. Embroideries of this scale may take many months to complete, as the women do not embroider as a full time occupation. Rather, this embroidery is done among other family tasks, or while visiting in groups with other embroiderers.
We have chosen to hold this exhibit in our online store, where you can easily browse through the embroideries and also see additional photos and high-resolution images.
25 NEW ONE OF A KIND EXHIBIT PIECES
All pieces are for sale.
THE NOMADIC RABARI SHAWL
SILK / COTTON
These shawls begin with wool from the sheep of Rabari herders. The wool is spun by Rabari elders and then woven by weavers of the Vankar community of Bhujodi. Once woven, it is passed to another group of women who do the bandhani resist ties. The shawl is dyed and the ties removed before it is passed on again back to the Rabari embroiderers who add the final embellishment. More than just a shawl — each piece is a testament to the genius, skill and co-operation of communities living in the Kachchh Desert of western India.
THE EMBROIDERERS OF KACHCHH
The proud stitch-heritage of the Kachchh region shows in every thread of these embroideries. Many ethnic groups are famous for their needlework: Dhebaria and Kutchi Rabari, Dhanetah Jats, Sodha Rajputs, and Mutwa. Each group has a traditional repertoire of figure and motif. These embroideries bring the richness of desert cultures into your hands — heirlooms for the future.
BOOKS WE'VE WRITTEN
To our U.S. customers – don't forget that the exchange rate works in your favour, it's like an extra discount.
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
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Tied resist is a traditional patterning technique that has been practiced in India for centuries. The Sanskrit origins of “Bandhani” also give us the term "bandana".
Each dot is the result of creating a tiny peak in the cloth, and then tightly wrapping thread around the peak to resist the dye. Artisans work with precision as they slowly pattern the entire cloth - a lengthy process with an exquisite outcome. These are pointallist masterpieces worked in silk.
Maiwa works directly with bandhani artisans working in the Kutch Desert of Gujarat, India.
HANDWOVEN KALA COTTON
To our U.S. customers – don't forget that the exchange rate works in your favour, it's like an extra discount.
Thursday, September 16, 2021
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FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER!
Leatherwork from the Artisans Alliance of Jawaja. These pieces are completely hand-worked by skilled craftspeople — from the stitched details to the burnished finish.
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
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AJRAKH PROCESS BOOK & FOUR BLOCK SET
Thursday, September 09, 2021
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MAIWA WORKSHOPS ONLINE
These are in-depth workshops delivered through engaging high-definition videos. Our Instructors skillfully guide students accompanied by detailed notes and student Q & A sections. At the end of each workshop students may participate in an optional Zoom meeting.
Workshops commence in October but students are free to work at their own pace. New content is delivered on a weekly basis until the course is complete. Students have access to workshops for three years from the date of purchase.
Our workshops are delivered on the teachable platform. To get a sense of how it works you may enrol in any of our seven free workshops.
Learn to successfully mordant cellulose and protein fibres. Work with cloth and yarns to achieve vibrant, clear colours using classic natural dyes.
In this workshop students will make over 18 separate dye-baths on a variety of fibre types (including wool, cotton, linen, silk, and hemp/cotton). The results will be shifted with iron and indigo for a complex palette. Exhaust baths will be used and these will also be shifted with a modified indigo vat. Students will receive an introduction to shaped resist and indigo dyeing. Throughout the course students will receive professional instruction from Maiwa founder Charllotte Kwon and her daughter Sophena Kwon.
• 45 evocative instructional videos.
• Work with 11 natural dyes including indigo.
• Build dye pots from 18 recipes, shift colours with iron and overdye with indigo.
• Complete the course with close to 100 different colours ... and a whole new appreciation for the magic of natural dyes.
Learn the process of making both pigmented and non-pigmented inks, including classics like iron gall ink as well as inks made from natural dyes like cochineal and lake pigments like weld.
In this workshop students will make a range of inks including water soluble and waterproof inks. The workshop will explore papers, and the basis of pointed pen (flexible) writing. Students will learn how to generalize the procedure of ink making so that it may be applied to any organic or mineral matter. The workshop will also present a discussion of journaling, writing, books, and creativity.
• 21 documentary-style instructional videos.
• Work with a range of materials including indigo, carbon black, cochineal, weld, gum Arabic and shellac.
• Learn about ink making as a way to explore materials.
• Consider the history of writing and ink and the future of your own creative practice
Learn to build a range of indigo vats including organic vats made with fruits, the iron vat, and vats made with plants. Learn a wealth of introductory and advanced shaped resist techniques on silk, linen, and cotton. Learn how to handle materials in the dye vat to get the most from indigo.
In this workshop students will be taken, step-by-step, through the process of making a number of indigo vats, including three organic "fruit vats." Students will learn not only how to make a vat but also how to maintain it, revive it, and put it to bed. The different vats will be explored through the use of many forms of shaped resist - including bound, clamp and stitch resist. An astonishing array of patterning is possible through these techniques. Students will learn how to adjust vats for different fibre types and conditions.
• 35 detailed instructional videos.
• All shaped resist techniques shown with clear, step by step instructions.
• Works taken from blank cloth to finished piece so you can see the entire process.
• An in-depth explanation of the chemistry of indigo extraction and indigo vats so you can learn how and why they work.
• Discover why indigo is the worlds most magical dye.
Click the button below to see all our online workshops.
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Keep an eye on schooloftextiles.com for updates.
Tuesday, September 07, 2021
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This bag is the result of bringing two great artisan communities together. Leatherworkers from Central Rajasthan (The Artisans Alliance of Jawaja) and weavers from the western Kachchh Desert (Vankar weavers of Bhujodi). This is more than just a bag, it is an example of artisans working together to create beautiful, exceptional pieces.
To our U.S. customers – don't forget that the exchange rate works in your favour, it's like an extra discount.
Thursday, September 02, 2021
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