Natural or “vegetable” dyes are made from plants, roots, and other natural materials. Until 1860 all textiles were dyed naturally. Everything, from a Sultan’s turban to an Emperor’s robe, was coloured naturally.

The chemical dye industry has displaced traditional skills and knowledge. The lore of the herbalist and the craftsperson is lost to the ease and ready availability of artificial colour.

Natural dyes have a unique personality and character. They age in a beautiful way. Wash naturally dyed textiles with mild neutral soap in cool water.

Indigo blue dye is extracted from the leaves of the indigo plant. Long before the popularity of blue jeans this famous colour was desired by the empires of the Orient, India, Africa and Europe.

The Tuareg, the legendary “blue men” of the Saharan desert, are blue because the indigo on their overdyed veils rubs onto their skin.

This garment is dyed with indigo. Though not as saturated as a Tuareg veil it still wants to share its hue, and so you may expect some colour to rub off on your skin or other clothing for a while. Wash separately with cool water and mild neutral soap.

A complex process that involves many separate steps, blockprinted cloth is testament to the talents of both printer and blockcutter.

Raw fabric is scoured, beaten and mordanted to create a receptive foundation. Intricately carved wooden blocks are then dipped in a mixture of sticky mud, mealy wheat and jaggery. With rythmic precision the blocks are placed on the cloth and hit with the heel of the hand. Thump.Thump. The paste leaves an imprint, which dries to form a resist, and the entire piece is immersed in the dyepot. This process is repeated over and over again to transform the cloth into a complex and many layered surface.

All colour changes over time, as do the fibers that make up a cloth. Expect natural dyes to mature in a harmonious way, contributing to the character of the piece. Our textiles are dyed by master craftspeople and so you can anticipate that the cloth will not fade prematurely.

All items can be washed with a mild neutral soap such as ZERO ®. Cotton may be either hung to dry or tumbled at moderate heat. Silk should be hung to dry. Wool items should be hand washed in cool water, lay flat to dry. All fibres can be finished with a light steam press.

In the past all threads were spun by hand before being woven together on a handloom. The artisan selected colours, textures, and techniques to weave their very personality into the cloth.

Some handwoven cloth is so delicate that the right conditions for weaving exist only during dusk and dawn.

Maiwa supports the communities and artisans who practice handweaving. There is a magic and beauty in a handwoven fabric that can be found nowhere else.

Handwoven cloth should be handwashed with cool water and mild neutral soap.

The needle and thread run through the cloth. The result may be a simple running stitch or the complex beauty of figurative and geometric motifs. In each case the work has something that sets it apart. Like a hand drawn line, each element is shaped by a personality.

Maiwa supports artisans with this work. Embroidery is a skill which may be learned and passed on within community and family. Embroidery has its own cultural heritage and the ability to empower artisans.

Embroidered or stitched garments should be washed by hand in cool water and mild neutral soap.

“Bandhani” derives from the Sanskrit term meaning “to tie.” Each circle in this unique and easily recognized patterning is tied by hand. The artisan pinches a tiny portion of the cloth and ties fine knots with cotton thread. The compressed cloth resists the dye. Where circles of many colours are present the cloth has been tied and untied many times.

Popularized by the counter-culture of the 1960s, large tie and dye patterns became well known in the West. The eloquent and finely detailed tie and dye known as bandhani predates this style by several thousand years.

We work directly with the bandhani artisans from Rajasthan and the Kutch Desert of Gujarat, Western India.

Sculptured cloth has a life of its own. Expect it to change over time and to be modified by use.

Care depends on individual preference. If you wish to retain the sculptured nature it is absolutely necessary to dry clean only and do not press. If the texture is not essential hand wash in cool water with a mild neutral soap such as ZERO ® roll in a towel to remove excess moisture and hang to dry.

Conventionally grown cotton uses more insecticides than any other single crop.

Organic cotton makes so much sense. From the health benefits for individual growers to the ecologic stewardship of farmlands for future generations. Organic cotton grown in India is now certified by two organizations: SKAL and Solidaridad. Both are independent groups based in the Netherlands. Certification inspects the farm, the gin and the production.

Care for organic cotton in the same way you would for any other cotton textile.

Khadi is hand-spun, hand-woven cloth.

This simple textile became a symbol of independence and freedom. It was promoted by Mahatma Gandhi as a way for each individual to be self-sufficient and embrace India’s rich heritage. Khadi is so much more than just a cloth, it is a philosophy, a way of life, woven from threads of empowerment, pride and history.

Handwoven cloth should be handwashed with cool water and mild neutral soap.