Edric Ong from World Craft Council Asia Pacific Region, co-curator of the exhibition, designer and artist, says, “The technique of ikat is practised in at least 28 to 30 countries across all the continents. It is therefore global and stretches across the five regions of the World Crafts Council.” The best thing about ikat is that it is exclusive to the country where it comes … Continue reading Ikat: The millennium old weaving technique
Bamboo plants are famously said to be lucky and auspicious according to principles of Feng Shui and Vastu Shastra. They make for amazing house warming gifts or act as a good luck charm for people starting a new journey. But what a lot of people don’t know is that this cute, indoor plant has also made its way graciously into the fabric textile industry. Bamboo … Continue reading Bamboo fibre: A good luck charm!
A refreshing summery fruit that’s great for the heat and keeps your digestion problems at bay, it’s yellow in colour, great for aesthetics and your best friend while vacationing on exotic beaches. You’ve guessed it right, we’re talking about pineapples! But what I bet you didn’t know about these luscious fruits is that pineapple fibre is a great ingredient for the making of some beautiful … Continue reading Pineapple fibre for the summer
Jute is a natural fibre which is 100% biodegradable and recyclable, also known as one of the strongest natural fibres. Due to its shiny, silky quality it is called as the Golden Fibre. Jute has the ability to be blended with other synthetic and natural fibres, making it a refreshing change from plain old cotton sarees. Jute silk sarees come in a wide range of … Continue reading Jute: The Golden Fibre!
In today’s day and age, where everything from dark chocolate to rice has become organic, why should the fashion industry be left behind? Banana fibre sarees are not only organic and biodegradable, but they also give an exotic, rich look and are completely cruelty-free! About 500 grams of fibre is required to create one saree and each banana stem would provide about 150 grams of … Continue reading The making of Banana fibre sarees
Linen fabric Linen fabric is produced from fibre extracted from the stems of the flax plant and was an important textile before wool and cotton. The only fabric considered better than cotton, is linen. Due to its cooling properties and its absorbent nature, linen fibre is perfect to beat the heat. The earliest production of linen is found to be around 8,500 years ago. It … Continue reading Linen: the sustainable and stylish fabric
Each handwoven saree has its own story. It brings with it the glory of their hometown, the pain, sorrows, joy, sweat and tears that go into their hard work. Originating from West Bengal, this technique was first begun by a small community of people called the Basak Community. This set of people later settled in Tangail, a district of Bangladesh. Since the weather was in … Continue reading The uniqueness of Tangail handloom sarees
“What makes our t-shirts stand out in a crowd is that all of the designs are original doodles drawn and written to give our busy, moody days something to look forward to with the happy anecdotes and colors.” With summer at its peak, nail-biting exam stress and long days of work, the only things keeping us sane are the little pleasures that we find. One … Continue reading Ideal summer wear
Jute and burlap fabric Since Jute fibres are weakened by water in nature, they are generally combined with cotton to add strength during cleaning. Dry cleaning is recommended for both Jute and Burlap cleaning, and if there are stains, it is best to get it cleaned by a professional cleaner. Jute items should be hand washed in cool water, using mild soap. They can be … Continue reading Care instructions for particular fabrics and garments
Traditionally, in Rajasthan, Ajrak printing required various stages of dyeing with the help of natural material-based dyes. The most common colours used for Ajrak printing are Indigos and blues. These dyes are painted on carved wooden blocks which contain intricate designs and patterns. Earlier, this process required professional wood carvers, but over time and due to a larger demand for the product, a lot of … Continue reading The process of Ajrak block printing
The Phoenix Company 