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SpiritTrader

IKAT Indigo Blue Cushion Cover with orange corner tassels, 50x70cm

$159
$159
$159
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Our truly unique, hand-crafted IKAT Indigo Blue Cushion Covers with orange tassels are truly a work of art.  Proudly made by women from Sumba and Timor using ancient practices passed down through generations over thousands of years, ikat textiles are as beautifully distinctive and unique.  No two pieces of ikat fabric are ever the same.

Our Indigo IKAT print showcases a unique 'star' pattern in an oversized cushion size of 50x70cmcm.  Each fabric placement is unique as our covers are made from one master fabric piece, some feature the border design incorporated.

The beautiful indigo blue colour, hand made from natural indigo dye, is a beautiful addition for all room settings... adding a touch of uniquely bohemian style to any setting - from bedroom, to lounge rooms, to outdoor entertaining settings.  

We're proud to help support villages and communities of women across the islands of Indonesia in purchasing these highly skilled, slow textiles. Our partners proudly source textiles from trusted NGOs who support traditional crafts and a small amount from local village markets to ensure variety.  They source cloth as close to the source of production as possible, travelling to villages where textiles are still made using traditional methods and buy directly from the women making them. Additionally, 15% of their profits are spent on community projects that support women in Indonesia. 

About IKAT

Meaning to "bind", ikat is an ancient dyeing and weaving technique originating from Indonesia used to pattern textiles that employs resist dyeing on the yarns prior to dyeing and weaving the fabric.  A beautiful, traditional practice, one piece of cloth can take anywhere from 1-12 months to complete. 

Indonesian ikat features a natural dyeing process - beautiful soft tones as well as strong and vibrant colours are produced using only natural dyes.  The process to produce strong colours that last is often a long one, it takes generations of local knowledge which is being lost with the popularity of chemical dyes.  Our partners buy ikat cloth directly from women working throughout the islands of Indonesia, predominantly Sumba and Timor.

See below in 'Story' for more detail on this distinctive practice. 

 

 

 

STORY

About IKAT

Meaning to bind or to tie, ikat made on a backstrap loom sitting on the ground.  The warp thread is strung onto the loom and the pattern is sketched onto the thread.  The thread is then:

wrapped with string, straw or plastic so certain areas of the thread to resist the dye,
soaked in one or numerous dye baths depending on the desired pattern,
returned to the warp of the loom and the weaving process begins. 
As the weft is woven through the warp, the pattern emerges in the cloth.  Once piece of cloth can take 1-12 months to complete.

Natural Dyeing Process

Beautiful soft tones as well as strong and vibrant colours are produced using only natural dyes.  The process to produce strong colours that last, is often a long one.  It takes generations of local knowledge which is being lost with the popularity of chemical dyes.

The blue is made from indigo which is grown and harvested locally.  It is first soaked in water mixed with lime powder.  The lime reacts with the leaf and turns the water blue.  It’s then fermented for weeks to ensure the colour is strong and will remain in the cloth.  Thread is then soaked in the dye mix, beaten with a wooden mallet to send the colour to the centre of the thread, dried; the process then repeats numerous times depending on the desired colour.

Red, yellow, brown, green and black are produced with various roots and leaves, sometimes mixed together for varying colour tones.

MATERIALS & DIMESIONS

Dimensions: Cotton, Cushion cover only, insert not included but Spotlight has all sizes covered at great prices.

PRODUCT CARE

Hand wash in cold water, turn inside out for drying

SHIPPING INFORMATION

Don't forget, homewares orders over $250 receive free shipping! Flat rate $15 for homewares orders under $250.

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From Maker To Market

Every piece has a story. And every purchase supports the artisans who created and handcrafted our products.

Spirit Trader was created to showcase, celebrate, and empower cultural artisan communities from around the world. We have consciously selected partners, creatives and products who practice and honour the traditional methods, crafts, materials and traditions of their culture that have been passed down through generations.

We are proud to partner with these makers as they support their local communities, and enrich our lives by sharing their beautiful handmade products with us.