Inspiration

Good quality linen and wool fabrics often have an intricately woven 100% PURE LINEN or 100% PURE WOOL text woven into the selvedge of the fabrics confirming their fibre content. Sometimes for wools they even note where the fabric is made. The selvedge’s of fabrics are often my favourite feature however sadly they can be hard to utilise and are most often discarded without a second thought.

For the Porcelain Resort 2022 Collection we have taken the selvedge text stripe and placed it centre stage.

At the very start of the year, I was surprised to be sent some beautiful handloomed double Ikat fabric swatches from our team in India. They were not fabrics I had asked to be sourced but knowing of my love of all things artisanal I was delighted to discover them.

The Ikat fabrics that compose our Porcelain Transeasonal 21 collection are existing designs handloomed on traditional wooden looms by the traditional methods and procedures in Telangana State India by “very good” people I am told.

Whilst many of the fabrics we offer, we design exclusively ourselves, not these. These are timeless traditional designs which in my mind will always look modern. That is what I love most about Indian Textiles; they are so beautifully designed and crafted that they are truly timeless.

Today on the last day of Fashion Revolution Week 2020 I am sharing with you an email I received from Samorn Sanixay on the 10^th of January. When I received it I was working on my own in studio before we had officially opened the doors after our Christmas break. It was such a terrifying start to the year with all the damage and destruction of the bush fires, who knew things were only going to get worse. Samorn’s email was such a delight to receive at the time, written from the heart if made me smile, it made me laugh and made me feel a whole lot better about the world with people like Samorn making it more beautiful for many through her work with Eastern Weft.

Eastern Weft is a weaving co-operative based in Vientiane, Laos founded in 2004 by Samorn Sanixay and Khaisy Sopabmixay to showcase the beauty and diversity of Laos textiles and craft.

Craftsmanship is very important to me therefore supporting and shining a light on artisanal crafts is very close to my heart. I encourage you to read Samorn's full newsletter below and to follow her work directly. Several years ago I was lucky enough to attend one of her natural dyeing workshops which was fascinating and truly inspiring – she really is the master of natural dyeing in Australia.

. We are excited to announce that we are now stocking iFele Sandals.  Read More

Eileen has just written a book! And we hope to have it published by her 104th birthday on October 8th.