DETAILS:

The Mu Cang Chai decorative throw pillow radiates with exquisite ethnic textiles which include Ikat from Indonesia, batik with appliqued embroidery from Vietnam, and beautiful Dhaka weave from Nepal. This is a favorite pillow of mine as it beautifully show off three techniques which are only mastered by the most skilled textile artisans. This one-of-a-kind accent pillow will grace any room in your home.

• 15.5” x 24”

• Front – cotton, hemp

• Back – linen, in beige

• Zipper closure

• Polyester insert

• Fabric origins: Indonesia, Vietnam, Nepal

THE STORY:

The Mu Cang Chai pillow is one of my favorites because it shows three my favorite textile techniques— batik, ikat and Dhaka weaves. The focal point of this pillow is an indigo batik made by the Flower Hmong of the Che Cu Nha community. Their art of indigo dyeing has different levels of light and dark shades on the same drawing which is a unique technique and completely different from other Hmong groups. Even the embroidery and batik motifs have special cultural significance. Above and below the batik are pieces of indigo-dyed hemp. During the six visits I have made to Vietnam, not once did I have the opportunity to visit the Hill Tribes in the northern part of Vietnam, but I must admit that the textiles produced by the Hill Tribes are notably some of my favorites. I purchased these fabrics during visits to Craft Link, a fair trade organization in Hanoi that supports ethnic minority groups and traditional craft producers to revive and promote traditional culture and skills through handicraft production.

The fabric on the right is a beautiful example of the intricate patterns achieved by the traditional Indonesian ikat. Ikat is the exact art of wrapping warp threads to form a resist before submerging the warp into the dye bath. It requires the re-wrapping of threads if more than one color is used in the fabric. It is a very precise technique to ensure a consistent pattern. I purchased the Indonesian fabrics used in this pillow from Pekerti, a fair trade organization I have worked with for many years which is located on the island of Java. My first visit was in 1992 as a consultant of SERRV International and then, years later, as a Buyer for SERRV. The first visit opened my eyes to the beautiful ikat weaving of Indonesia.

The elegance and sophistication of the Dhaka weave from Nepal, on the right of the pillow, is apparent in the bold blues, silver and gold expertly intertwined in this unique fabric. This piece transitions well next to the delicate pattern of the vintage indigo batik from the Hmong Hill tribe in Vietnam. The geometric Dhaka fabric is an intricate and traditional hand weaving technique practiced by many generations of weavers. Dhaka patterns are unique and special. This fabric is truly a form of the rich cultural expression reflecting the Nepali’s mastery of craftsmanship. I did not have an opportunity to visit the Dhaka weavers when I was in Nepal but have appreciated the infinite numbers of patterns and colors I have seen in the markets. The Dhaka fabric I have used is from the Association of Craft Producers, a fair trade organization located in Kathmandu.