Maiwa Handprinted Bedding.

With the modern open-concept of lofts and smaller condos and apartments, bedrooms that were once hidden behind closed doors are now out in the open. Exposed in this open concept, bedding has become a part of the overall decor.

In the heart of artsy Granville Island is the well established shop, Maiwa Handprints. Textile enthusiast will find inspiration in the creative collection of Arjakh block-printed cloths. Indigo blues, madder reds, and yellows derived from pomegranate rinds are among the natural dyes that caractarise the prints.  

The production is complex, time consuming and labour-intensive. The arjakh cloth is scoured, beaten and mordanted to create an impurity-free foundation receptive to the dyes. Using intricately carved wooden blocks, the cloth is then printed with a sticky mud, mixed into a paste with mealy wheat and jaggery. The paste forms a resist and gives way to a gentle tonal patterning.

Multiple dips in a combination of baths creates an excitement of new colours. The Arjakh designs are timeless and can easily be mixed and matched with a combination of colours. By varying the sequences of blocks and the dyes in the vats, there is a vast variety of designs, tones and hues. Mixing and matching old with new is easy.

Maiwa actively supports the Arjakh artisans who live and work in the Kutch desert, close to the Pakistan border. They commission large quantities of these textiles, buying them at Fair Trade prices. These are then imported and made into into bedding and decorative cloths. By paying fair prices, the ancient craft is preserved and high standards are maintained. The designs remain with the artisans.

With India's rich tradition of block printed textiles, these cloths became sought after and popular in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries when Europe was trading with the East. Their rich colours and paisley patterns made their way into the paintings of the old Dutch Masters.

In our travels I am always on the lookout for unique handmade items that are practical and can be used in daily life. We had Maiwa bedding in our sailboat, Sequitur, and it offered us much comfort and style on our voyage through Patagonia and around Cape Horn. Maiwa bedding and table linen will be included in the decor of Zonder Zorg, our floating home in Europe.