November 11, 2020

Behind the Scenes: The Sarisilk Collection

Our upcoming Sarisilk Collection, launching in December, is made from soft recycled sari silk and inspired by traditional ikat motifs. Rather than discard them, artisans are able to remove individual threads from recycled silk saris, sort them by color, and spin them into a yarn of hundreds of shades, giving it a depth and range of hues that can’t be achieved through dyeing. Each piece is handwoven with handspun raw silk and high-quality New Zealand wool. The colorful spools of silk yarn contain a multitude of hues, so each red, or green, or blue motif has depth and personality.

We were struck by the sense of movement and shimmering, multifaceted color of these natural silk pieces. The sari, or saree, is an iconic piece of Indian culture which dates back to 2800 BCE. Sanskrit for “strip of cloth”, a sari is a versatile and elegant garment which can be draped in over 100 ways.

Each rug in this collection is named for a different style of sari drape, whose titles are derived from cities, communities, art forms, and family names from all over India. We’re indebted to the Sari Series by agency Border&Fall, a thorough and beautiful resource documenting India’s seemingly infinite sari drapes, with how-to videos and the cultural background of each style.

Silk sari with kantha stitch, from our designer's mother's personal collection

Patola sari from our designer's mother's personal collection

Handpainted Dhaka silk sari from our designer's mother's personal collection

Our weavers in Agra, India have passed down their weaving techniques for decades. Agra was the capital of the Mughal Empire, and the art of weaving was introduced there in the late 16th century by Emperor Akbar. A patron of the arts, he established weaving workshops there and in surrounding areas, for the decoration of his newly commissioned palace.

A prominent weaving tradition continued, and Agra exported many rugs until the first half of the 20th century, when, due to global disruptions and lack of demand, the practice suffered. Following independence in the 1970s, manufacturers from Jaipur and Bhadohi reintroduced their weaving skills in the villages of Agra and soon thereafter the local rug industry started taking shape again.

Within Agra, rug weaving is traditionally a cottage industry, so much of the work is done at home. All of the weaving, washing, and finishing is done meticulously by hand to ensure the best quality product. The weaving house we've partnered with is most proud of the uniqueness of its products, going as far as avoiding the websites or social media of customers, competitors, or other rug makers, as the team believes that leads to tunnel vision, limiting the possibilities of innovation.

“We do participate in several trade fairs every year,” our partner explained to us, “and I can say with confidence after having participated in several trade fairs that our products - good or bad - have always been unique and our own creations, rather than being inspirations or copies of someone else’s hard work. That’s the feedback we receive from our customers: no one makes stuff like you do, nor do you make stuff like other people!”