handmade

Balinese artisan Dayu Menuhari presents a gorgeous batik scarf diligently crafted by hand. "We don't do any printing or even stamping," she says, "but it's all hand painted and while that makes our production take longer, our products are purely hand-made." Butterflies flit across the rayon scarf's awe-inspiring design in porcelain and geranium hues, which includes a traditional parang pattern at both ends of the accessory. A parang is type of knife, and the use of a parang motif was once reserved solely for Javanese royalty. Fringe on both ends completes the vibrantly-colored wrap scarf.

Add bold style to any outfit with this eye-catching striped scarf from Guatemalan duo Miriam and Debora. Expertly woven on a backstrap loom, its rich textures and sumptuous mix of lapis, cyan, navy and white hues create ravishing depth and dimension. The lush fringe finishing on both ends provides a playful pop of movement. Drape on this dazzling design that is sure to make any look unforgettable.

Yuni Kristina conjures a mystical paradise filled with blossoming flowers and exotic birds. She creates the composition with stamp batik techniques on silk, underscored by rich brown undertones.

The spirit of the Guatemalan lake calls for you through the stunning beauty of this scarf from the San Antonio Palopo Cooperative. Master artisans choose refined cotton threads to create this striped garment—woven in a traditional loom to obtain a graceful look. Blue, black and fuchsia hues merge on each stripe and fringe, honoring the region's lakes and landscapes.

Shimmering shades of blue and cream cover this elegant scarf. Yuni Kristina recreates the parang raja. One of many traditional batik motifs, it symbolizes the ancient Javanese kingdom in general. She stamps the blue patterns in pure silk and adds the red blossoms with the batik motif.

Originated by the Akan peoples of Ghana, colorful kente cloth is the best-known of all African textiles. Kente is woven by hand in strips, which is how it came by its name (kente means "basket" in the Ashanti dialect). Ghana's Rachel Armah creates this colorful cotton blend scarf in cheerful shades of blue, pink and cream. The scarf's width allows it to double as a shawl.

In kente cloth, each color has a symbolic meaning: black symbolizes maturation and intensified spiritual energy; blue signifies peacefulness, harmony and love; green symbolizes vegetation, planting, harvesting, growth, and spiritual renewal; gold represents royalty, wealth, high status, glory, and spiritual purity; grey is for healing and cleansing rituals; maroon signifies the color of mother earth, associated with healing; pink and purple are associated with the female essence and female aspects of life; red symbolizes political and spiritual moods, bloodshed, sacrificial rites and death; silver is associated with the moon and represents serenity, purity, and joy; white is for purification, sanctification rites and festive occasions; and yellow represents preciousness, royalty, wealth, fertility, and beauty.

By Vinita in Thailand, this exquisite open-weave scarf combines vibrant tones of pink, rose and burgundy. The motifs are created by hand using the tie-dye technique, which makes every scarf a unique work of art. The artisan uses luxurious bark silk with its characteristic slightly rough textures.

Plum and white hues unite to let you move to the rhythm of a chic tune. Peru’s Ulloa Family showcases the region’s textile artistry in this soft alpaca scarf, combining chevron and striped patterns. Accented with the fringes, the center lines crown the piece with a palette of goldenrod, ginger, green and crimson colors.

By Vinita in Thailand, this exquisite scarf combines vibrant tones of magenta, blue and olive green. The motifs are created by hand using the tie-dye technique, which makes every scarf a unique work of art. The artisan uses luxurious hand spun silk, with its characteristic slightly rough textures.

Whether draped around your neck, styled as a head wrap or elegantly worn as a shawl, this versatile rayon scarf by Java’s Erna Gendhis is a great addition to complement your looks in any season. It is adorned with intricate hand-drawn batik motifs in a bright palette of sea green, crimson, orange, yellow, black and white hues that dance across the fabric, creating a feast for the eyes. The fabulous fringe accents on both ends add a touch of playful elegance to this unique design.

Bands of green shade from deep forest to pale lime. Working on the backstrap loom, Maya artisans from K'amolon K'i K'ojonel transform rayon made from bamboo fiber into a lightweight handwoven scarf. Lavish fringe trims each end.

Vibrant rays of color compose this charming ikat scarf inspired by chevron patterns. The Gold Silk Association of Uzbekistan crafts this fringed cotton accessory using traditional techniques, which allow the artisans to add a bold combinations of colors.