work shawls

Designed by Dewa De Wardana, this elegant blue and white shawl is colored with dyes derived from organically farmed indigo. Talented artisans work in hand stamped batik on sheer silk chiffon.

With its crisp beige and ivory contrast and delicate diamond weave, this silk shawl makes a statement without saying a word. Hand-loomed in India and presented by Khitish, it’s a refined accessory that works year-round, perfect for casual and formal wear.

In all the colors of a fiesta, cotton yarns are handwoven together on a traditional backstrap loom. They create the intricate stripes and X patterns of this shawl from Guatemala. Elena Ixtamer creates this artisanal shawl, which is sure to turn heads wherever it goes. Hand-knotted fringe work accents the ends of this marvelous accessory.

Indian artisans Rajnandinee and Srabonti are friends who work together to create elegant pieces of attire. They present this shawl, handwoven from 100% silk with a block-printed triangular design in emerald and black on ivory.

Timeless beauty is woven in the looms of the Desert Weavers of India, the hands that transform cotton yarns into a distinguished shawl. Alabaster and onyx hues unite in the folk art pattern that characterizes this fringed garment as a work of art, ready to add elegance to any ensemble.

An intense green tone adds a captivating touch to these dangle earrings crafted by Shawn Martin in India. As an expert in jewelry, the artisan works with precious onyx stones, believed to enhance memory and intellect, and sterling silver to create the accessory, adding little conic motifs.

Somu and Soma design a beautiful shawl that celebrates the traditions of Bengal. The navy silk wrap is woven by hand on a traditional pit loom with Bishnupur double-ply silk. Its colorful mosaic print in turquoise, scarlet red, lime green and teal blue symbolizes the festive Bengalese message of "13 festivals for 12 months."

As with all handwoven silk, there will be minor slubs where the threads are joined. These are not defects, but evidence of an artisan-crafted work of textile art.

Drawing inspiration from the majestic peacock and richAndean textile heritage, Peru’s Maria Cutipa createsthis remarkable intarsia knit cardigan in a deep blueshade. The shawl collar cardigan is expertly crafted from100% alpaca yarn and is adorned with embroideredfloral, leaf and geometric patterns, with an impressivepeacock motif at the back that steals the show. Addingto its charm are the handpainted ceramic buttons whichcloses the front, elevating the garment to a work of art.Front patch pockets.

The intricate texture in this handsome kente cloth shawl is inspired by beach pebbles. Designed by a fisherman around 1898, its name means "pebbles of the shore are hard to crack." The tiny blocks of pattern represent the thoughts of that ancestral craftsman. Handcrafted by the Gobah Tengey-Seddoh Family, this extraordinary double weave textile is one of the most difficult patterns to achieve. These expert weavers use traditional looms and a cotton blend.

Each strip requires considerable effort, and the looms are worked with both hands and feet. Strips are generally three to four inches wide and seven to ten feet long, and the length of time it takes to complete one strip varies by the complexity of the chosen pattern. The simplest use mostly vertical, or warp patterns, and an experienced weaver can make several of those in one day. But patterns with nearly all weft (horizontal thread) patterns, where the warp design is hardly visible, can take up to four days to complete an individual strip. Each color has its own meanings in Asante culture. Green is fertility and new harvest, gold is royalty, black is strength, aging, and spirituality, while white is purity. The patterns themselves are carefully chosen symbols, which a master weaver develops and names, often to honor people, historical events, or proverbs.