Slow Clothes in India - Video

Slow clothes are a journey in the making. This lecture and film presented by Charllotte Kwon (founder of Maiwa) showcases points on that journey. Each maker that we feature is in full stride – with one foot in the traditional territory of the past and one foot already placed in the optimistic landscape of the future.


Since the time of the industrial revolution, cultural critics have claimed that mass manufacturing destroys a fundamental connection between life and meaning. Today, many don’t know how cotton grows or who farms it; few understand how it is dyed, woven into cloth, and sewn into something to wear.


To fill this void modern clothing is heavily branded—and the story of the brand fills the space that used to be filled by the voice of the cloth itself.
At Maiwa, if we can choose between a block printed piece of cloth and a plain one—we will choose the printed. If we can choose between handloomed cloth and mill-made—we will go for the handloom. Every time we make these decisions, we keep a group of artisans working at their craft. These are often multi-generation artisan families who are beginning to enjoy an international reputation. Craft is about trade. If there is no demand, even the most skilled craftsperson must abandon their work.

???? Sign up to receive beautiful emails that celebrate artisan work, slow clothes and natural dyes - https://mailchi.mp/maiwa/subscribe


???? WATCH NEXT:
The Poetics of Textiles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deH5_H1iXL8


MORE PLACES TO FIND US:
????Our website & shop - https://maiwa.com/
????????Maiwa’s Slow Clothes - https://maiwa.com/collections/all-clothing
????Natural Dye & Textile Workshops - https://maiwa.teachable.com/
????Natural Dye Tips & Recipes - https://naturaldyes.ca/
???? Instagram:
Maiwa - https://www.instagram.com/maiwahandprints/
Maiwa School of Textiles - https://www.instagram.com/maiwaschooloftextiles/
Maiwa Natural Dyes - https://www.instagram.com/maiwa_naturaldyes/


WHO ARE WE?
We are natural dyers, textile lovers, travellers, teachers & designers ???? A family business for over 35 years: Natural Dyes, Slow Clothes, Artisan Goods, Organic Bedding, Handwoven Textiles, Online Natural Dye Workshops, and more…


⌚️TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro
00:27 - Slow Clothes
02:00 - A different way of doing things
03:54 - Waiting for the monsoon
04:55 - Handwoven cloth and diversity of fibres
06:05 - Village life where work & home life co-exist
08:57 - Organic cotton
11:48 - Natural Indigo
13:31 - Natural Dyes in Maiwa’s clothing & bedding
14:40 - Block printing with natural dyes
16:39 - Ajrakh block printing
17:05 - Jawaja leatherworkers
19:47 - Hand embroidery
21:23 - Collaborating with artisans
21:58 - The Banjara
28:09 - Working collaboratively
29:53 - The Maiwa Studio in Rajasthan
33:57 - Promoting human made & beauty in imperfection
34:48 - A basic need for clothing becomes an excessive demand
36:06 - Change is needed - buy better
37:08 - Creative & responsive production methods
40:15 - We need a slow clothes revolution