Blog
Oct 23
Bolivian Handspinners Shine in Spinzilla Competition
The results are in! Spinzilla, the international handspinning competition, announced final numbers on Monday. Collectively and worldwide, Spinzilla spinners spun 3,983,286.18 yards of yarn in one week! Really they did. And while the Bolivian team, Warmis Phuskadoras, supported by ClothRoads/Thrums didn’t make the top ten (they came in #19 of→ Read more
Oct 16
Indigo: The Color Which Will Change Your World
Is there another dye that holds such deep, almost magical, powers as indigo? One that is called by so many names, such as ai (Japan), landian (China), chàm (Laos and Vietnam), nila ( India), gara (Africa), or añil (Central America)? One that beckons the spirits or causes mutinies?→ Read more
Oct 09
Go Beyond Textile Armchair Travel
It’s my annual fall ritual–I buy next year’s calendar and stare at all those blank days, days of potential for travel, ClothRoads trunk shows, conferences, exhibits, and the challenge to fit it in with work and volunteer time. It’s the time of year that countries, rich in textile-making traditions, beckon→ Read more
Sep 23
A Traditional Rattan Basket Carries a Load
Only skillful artisans can weave baskets made of rattan strips, designed with bold motifs, and continue to sustain their forests and traditions. The artisans of the Dayak Benuaq, a subtribe of Dayak who live in West Kutai, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, are that skilled. Currently, about 75 artisans from the Eheng→ Read more
Sep 12
A Natural Fiber Forms a Bond among Ayoreo Women
Strong. Resilient. Tenacious. That’s my description of the naturally-dyed fiber bags, designed and created by the Cheque Oitedie Cooperative from the Ayoreo community of Bolivia. But it’s also describes the character of the women who are its makers.→ Read more
Sep 04
Spinzilla: Bolivian Team Competes in Hand Spinning
Have you heard about Spinzilla and the Warmis Phuskadoras? The what? Let me tell you–this October, ClothRoads is sponsoring a group of twenty-five Bolivian hand spinners, named the Warmis Phuskadoras, in an international hand spinning competition, Spinzilla. (Warmis is Quechua for women, Phuska is Quechua for drop spindle, and the→ Read more
Aug 28
Indian Hand Weaver Meets Santa Fe Folk Art Market
Spending immersive time with hand weaver and textile designer Dayalal Kudecha (Dahyabhai) from India, twice within an eight-month period, was a rich learning experience. I introduced you to Dahyabhai in January after meeting him at the weaving gathering in Peru. At that time, he had just learned of his acceptance→ Read more
Aug 21
Hand Embroidery, Art of the Sinai
Masterful, hand embroidery and bead artisanry often reminds me of the “hamsa”, the symbol of the hand of Fatima, daughter of the prophet Mohammed. It symbolizes patience, loyalty, faith, and resistance against difficulties. The Bedouin Jabaliya women, who create the embellished hand arts for the social enterprise FanSina, represent these→ Read more
Aug 07
5 Ideas with Steps for Displaying Narrow, Long Textiles
Displaying textiles, especially narrow, long ones such as bands and braids, can be a challenge. Dangling them over a rod is an easy solution, but not very attractive. Plus, there are visual and conservation considerations: A proper mount needs to account for any inherent weakness in the textile, be aesthetically→ Read more
Jul 30
Come Behind-the-Scenes: Naturally Dyeing and Printing Silk Fabric
How often does one get to travel to India and see the actual natural dye process and block printing of your own fabric? Follow along and you’ll get to see the video of the making of this mulberry silk, hand woven in a window-pane gauze, being created under the guidance→ Read more
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Pattern, Chinese Jacket (114) $19.95
