work shawls

Handwoven from 100% silk, this shawl features block-printed wave motifs. Indian artisans Rajnandinee and Srabonti work together to create this magnificent wrap, elaborating it with maroon and black on pale beige.

For the perfect accessory on your next night out, this shawl is designed by Danish Ansari in India. He works with a viscose blend in hues of black, ivory, and ash to hand-weave this elegant accessory. Glimmering sequins and fringes accentuate the shawl, which can double as a scarf.

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.

Rajnandinee and Srabonti are two friends from India who work together to produce beautiful clothing and accessories. Handwoven from 100% silk, this ivory shawl features block printed floral motifs in black and candy apple red that are reminiscent of traditional designs painted on the floors of Bengal houses before deity altars.

Glamour and elegance always leave a mark, just as this paisley-inspired shawl will do on your nights. Sandeep Malhotra’s artisan team, from India, works with refined wool yarns in grey and black hues to craft the shawl’s stunning paisley pattern, enhanced by fringes.

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.

Chic in its appeal, this Indian scarf is presented by Sandeep Malhotra. He works with local artisans, who weave this shawl from wool to feature pinstripes of taupe and stone against a body of solid black. Lycra threads give this shawl a ruffled appearance.

Thick yarns add rich texture to this fascinating kente cloth shawl by Gobah Tengey-Seddoh. Strips of black, white and Delft blue make a dramatic and handsome color combination. Designed and woven of coarse local cotton in the 12th century, the lokpo pattern means "heavy or thick in texture."

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. However 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.

Combining shades of lime green and black, Gobah Tengey-Seddoh creates an outstanding example of kente cloth art. Gray derives its symbolism from ash, used for healing and cleansing rituals. Black represents physical aging and the spiritual maturity it brings. Each strip requires considerable effort, and the looms are worked with both hands and feet. The patterns themselves are carefully chosen symbols, which a master weaver develops and names, often to honor people, historical events or proverbs.