Editorials
Ikat Inspiration
What do Indonesian ikat, Egyptian tribal scarves and Turkmen camel trappings have in common? Other than their exquisite handicraft and ceremonial use, they capture thousands of years of textile history in between each thread of yarn. The oldest ikat textile found was discovered in an Egyptian Pharaoh’s tomb – a delicate weave that dates back 5000 […]
View Editorial
A Meeting of Blues
The International Folk Art Market inspires love for the textiles of the world. All manner of handmade fabrics are celebrated at this annual fête, from kantha to batik to shisha to suzani. Among them is one of our favorites: the deep cobalt of indigo-dyed cotton and silk. Coveted for its medicinal qualities and its rich […]
View Editorial
Earthy Delights
Even in the most urban of settings, our eyes crave the richness of soil. A garden replete with tomatoes, marigolds and floating butterflies – count us in. Earth tones symbolize fertility, growth and the promise of a future harvest. It’s of little surprise that we are drawn to the depth, warmth, and comfort of this […]
View Editorial
The Ancient Art of Mud Silks
Achievable only during a few short months of the year, the ancient art of mud silk is an intricate seasonal process. Not only do the weather conditions have to be just right, but the organic make-up of the surrounding landscape has to be in perfect harmony to create the components crucial to mud silk’s signature […]
View Editorial
Nature's Symphony
Linen, a strong textile derived from flax plants, is the perfect complement for hot weather. In addition to having a luxurious hand, it is lightweight and dries more quickly than cotton. When left in its most natural state, undyed and with few embellishments, linen invites a life lived lightly. It speaks of warm days relaxing […]
View Editorial
Reflection & Refraction
Much of what makes a beautiful piece of jewelry is the way its stones react to light. Reflection – how light bounces around the interior of the stone – plays in tension against refraction – the specific way the stone “bends” light – to create the luminesce inherent to precious gems. Pippa Small’s collection is […]
View Editorial
Seeking Modernity
When creating their newest collection, Lucie and Luke Meier, the creative directors behind minimalist powerhouse Jil Sander, asked themselves: What feels modern? Is it the inclusion of a forward-thinking, eco-friendly textile? Avant-garde silhouettes that break the boundary of shape? While the brand is no stranger to either of these ventures – and has indeed incorporated […]
View Editorial
A Study in Simplicity
Tucked within the dense woodlands of Sweden, find heaven by a different name. The Forest Retreat, designed by Stockholm-based Norm Architects, is a study in simplicity. A converted timber cabin, its interior has been completely reenvisioned for a life lived slowly. Soft linens, minimalist wooden furniture and smooth, dolomite plaster walls encourage the rest and relaxation […]
View Editorial
The Handcrafting Traditions of Acquaviva delle Fonti
In each Corîu bag, find the soul of their hometown, Acquaviva delle Fonti. The label’s distinctly classic designs are informed by centuries of Italian leather craft, and the inherent beauty of goods made slowly. Their latest collection, Mare Nostrvm — a stylization of the Italian for “our sea” — explores the sensory experience of Puglia and Southern […]
View Editorial
History of Japanese Silk
Ever since its introduction to Japan between the second and third centuries BC from China, silk has become a unique and coveted material in Japanese culture. From then on, Japanese silk weaving and farming techniques, or sericulture, began to develop independently from their Chinese predecessors, aided by the temperate Japanese climate which allowed the art […]
View Editorial
A Journey with Jeans
We all take our own journey with jeans. Did you ever put a pair on and sit in a hot bath, hoping they would shrink fit? Or chop them up with a blunt pair of scissors to wear to a festival. Jeans take on the DNA and personality of the wearer. The commitment to get […]
View Editorial
From the 6th Century BCE
Many things come to mind when thinking of Rajasthan – it cannot enter the conversation without evoking exquisite architecture, grand palaces and bright spices wafting through open air markets. However, when considering the identity of India’s heartland, textiles come first. The country is built around a millennia of fabric excellence – many modern, world-renowned techniques […]
View Editorial
Presence...
To most, being present is the utmost challenge. In addition to requiring constant practice, it takes an incredible amount of attention, patience and time. However, it is one of the most important skills for a full and beautiful life. In the realm of high craft, presence is non-negotiable. It is the gap between complacency and […]
View Editorial
A Gaze into Wilderness
The heartbeat of North Africa thumps from within Uma Wang’s latest collection. The brush of oat grass in the thready pile of a jacket, the spill of sand dunes in overlapping silk panels or the dappled shade of a Lebanon Pine in the subtle color of a coffee dye. The delivery is deeply Uma, and […]
View Editorial
The Mosaic Motifs of Jaipur
Mieko Mintz uses the traditional craft of kantha quilting to stitch two cultures together. Her southern Japanese heritage pairs with the famous Indian textile practice to create singular pieces using fine vintage saris to create kimono-style kantha jackets. The practice of kantha quilting dates back thousands of years and is thought to have originated in the […]
View Editorial
Up Close & Personal
Artistic freedom defines Ümit Ünal and his meticulous creations. Unbothered by trends, his work lasts longer than a fashion cycle. His designs reference a childhood spent in the family’s Istanbul atelier – working with global textiles, ancient mending practices, contemporary thought and timeless silhouettes. Ünal pursues excellence in the unending way of the artist. Patches of […]
View Editorial
Nature & Nurture
To say that Daniela Gregis’s work is dreamy is an understatement. Just like the gardens designed by Piet Oudolf, her collections are poetry for the senses – harnessing all the wild, tame, bright, monochrome, soft and structured elements nature has to offer. Rendered in organic cottons, linens and silks, her silhouettes are easy to slip […]
View Editorial
A Quiet Counterculture
Georgia O’Keeffe changed visual art by painting the desert landscape she loved. Marsèll’s collection of fine leather goods innovate with the same spirit. Minding the leathercraft traditions that made them, in hues of desert rain, wet earth, nightfall and daybreak, Marsèll – like O’Keeffe – excels in organic forms and finishes. Working from their studio […]
View Editorial
Hand-Carved Ethiopian Vessels
The Borana people craft vessels using acacia wood for use in all aspects of their lives, from carrying water to welcoming guests into the home. A semi-nomadic herding people, the Borana move across southern Ethiopia in search of fertile grazing grounds for their livestock. The containers display a closeness to the land from which they come. […]
View Editorial
Samplers of Sincerity
Wild creatures from forest, sahara and jungle rendered in Sabina Savage’s expert hand mark her Spring/Summer ‘23 collection. The new line of silk and cashmere scarves depict animals and insects near extinction: panda, bird, jaguar and butterfly. Despite these creatures’ dire status, Savage harkens back to a homespun time where needlework samplers reflected the social […]
View Editorial
An Inspired Blue
A traveller at heart, Mieko Mintz infuses her unique pieces with the creativity of place. Be it the silhouettes of Japanese kimonos, the kantha stitching of West Bengal, the punchy streetwear of New York City or the casual elegance of Paris, a global experience is what breathes life into her work. In her juxtaposed prints, […]
View Editorial
Basketry from the Hills of Arta
In northeast Mallorca lies Arta, a small village nestled between lush mountains and the Balearic Sea. Centuries-old olive trees speckle this region – the perfect material for the traditional basketry practiced by its residents. Sharing the hillside with Es Racó d’Artà, a serene countryside retreat, Daniela Gregis pursues the art of basket weaving in her […]
View Editorial
A Casual Californian Aesthetic
Biomimicry is the practice of finding inspiration within the modes of nature. The earth, after all, is not only our most precious resource for material, but for beauty itself. Good design draws directly from this unending well; great design improves upon it. A prime example of the latter lies in the biomimetic philosophy embodied by […]
View Editorial
Arancione & Rosso
Within Daniela Gregis’s summer collection, her intuitive designs remind us of the joy of dressing. In this first taste, orange and rose abound – a precursor to the full spectrum of color to come. With a palette as lively as the joie de vivre that inspires it, an ease and pleasure of wear become the […]