Textile Swatches

A visit to Yountville

 

On a recent visit to Napa valley, we stayed at the Bardessono in Yountville- one of three LEED- platinum certified hotels in the U.S. Enjoyed the sleek, contemporary design, paired with the warm attitude of the staff.

Enjoyed learning about the Tillandsia plant- an air plant, that grows without soil, gathering nutrition and moisture from the air- through its leaves.

The Bardessono has a wonderful 'Tillandsia wall'

While strolling in downtown Yountville, we came across this exhibit

How it's made: Clamp Dye Resist fabric.

 

One of our new textiles, 'Colaba' from our soon to be released collection, 'Bombay Glitz' is handmade by a Clamp Dye Resist process, also called Itajime.

It basically involves making folds in the fabric and then using a carved wood shape as a resist. This wood resist needs to be placed on both sides of the folded cloth and then is held together tightly with a clamp.

Here are some images from our process-

Bringing in the muscle to tighten the clamps!

The clamped fabric is then soaked in water to make it more absorptive to the dyeing process.

It is then placed in the dye bath.

After it is removed from dyeing.

And the clamps are removed, but the fabric is still folded...

And voila! the finished product...

And here's a short video documentation. 

What do you think? Do you like the result?

Here's a great book, 'Shibori: The Inventive Art of Japanese Shaped Resist Dyeing' if you have an interest to explore this technique. It's written by my friend and mentor, Yoshiko Wada, and Mary Kellog Rice and Jane J. Barton.

Making of our Textiles: A visit to the Dyer

We are in the midst of getting our new collection 'Bombay Glitz' ready for launch.

One of our new fabrics-  Colaba, is a handmade clamp dye. More to come on this process in the next post.

We went to visit the dyer in an old part of Bangalore while making the prototypes. Here are some images of what we saw along the way...

This was the entrance to the street. A beautiful archway made of flowers and plantain leaves. Probably a wedding or celebration in the community. And we captured a flower vendor entering the street!

Each home had beautiful Rangoli designs hand drawn at their entrance.

We encountered these calves!

The things we take for granted. Water is in short supply and running water is not a given for most people. So we saw their matkas and buckets waiting to be filled when water does come in the neighborhood tap.

Patterned and brightly colored buildings.

 

Urban Studio at Le Mill

Download Urban Studio

We will be at Le Mill in Mumbai next week. On December 8,9.10 and 11, 2011. 

This will be the launch of the availability of our Fabric-by-the-Yard at Le Mill.

If in Mumbai, stop by and say hello!

Le Mill

Nandlal Jani Road, Off P Dmello Road

Next to Wadi Bunder Railway Bridge

T. 022.2374 2415

 

Our current inspirations

The new collection is well underway and is coming along well.

Here are some images of our current inspirations...

In India

The business is growing, we've had such a wonderful response to our textiles. I feel I need to spend more time expanding my production base. My favorite part of the process is working with the craftspeople and being inspired by the amazing creativity and magic in their hands...

So here I am- on a sabbatical in Bangalore... very exciting!!! It's been 10 years since I lived here. Since I had my weaving studio and was in daily contact with looms and weavers. 

There have been plenty of visits, but it's nice to have the feeling of 'being back home'. 

Check back in for images and visuals from our trip- what inspires us and new designs in process.