DETAILS:

The Yunnan lumbar pillow is one of my favorites. The colors, patterns and fabrics make this accent pillow truly unique and a one-of-a-kind. Yunnan combines ikat from Indonesia, hand embroidery from Pakistan, a hand cross stitch sampler from China, and vintage backstrap weaving from Guatemala. This pillow will be a delightful and intriguing addition to any room.

• 25” x 15”

• Front – cotton

• Back – linen, in harvest gold

• Zipper closure

• Down duck feather pillow insert

• Fabric origins: Indonesia, Pakistan, China, Guatemala

THE STORY:

The Yunnan lumbar pillow features incredible embroidery work from Pakistan and China as well as traditional ikat from Indonesia and vintage backstrap weaving from Guatemala. This pillow is rich in traditional techniques.

The fabric on the left with orange, burgundy and cream with black stripes was handwoven in Indonesia using the traditional ikat technique of wrapping warp threads to create a resist before placing them in the dye bath. Each color requires the re-wrapping of threads to achieve an intricate pattern in the fabric. This particular piece of ikat fabric was repurposed from a bag I found at a thrift store. I was first introduced to ikat on a trip to Indonesia in 1992. I continue to be amazed by beautiful and complex patterns the weavers can achieve with this technique of wrapping warp threads before the dyeing process.

I have always appreciated the incredible embroidery of Pakistan. I have tried several times to travel to the country, but due to several reasons such as travel alerts by the U.S. government, made it impossible for me to visit. Fortunately, through my work with the fair trade organization SERRV International, I was able to have embroidered fabric sent to me. The piece in this pillow is exceptional. The Pakistan Phulkari embroidery technique you see in this pillow is from the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent and literally means “flower work.” At one time, “Phulkari” was also the word for embroidery. This fabric is rich in colors of oranges and purple, with accents of green. The patterns alternate in color and design and the piece is embellished with fringed trim.

The cross stitch embroidery sampler is made by Lisu women, one of the ethnic minority groups living in Yunnan, China. They are one of six ethnic groups working with Threads of Yunnan, a project of the Danish organization, Danyun, designed to raise the standard of living of countryside people in Yunnan. I was fortunate to visit this group and spend time working with these talented women. The trip to Yunnan was one of the most incredible journeys I have made in my career.

The fourth fabric is from a vintage huipil, the traditional dress worn by indigenous women in Chuarrancho, Guatemala. It is part of a collection of huipils and other fabrics I collected during the seven years I lived in Guatemala. This fabric, woven on a backstrap loom, has a dark brown background with rows of flowers, ducks and other motifs woven with a supplementary weft technique. It is rich in earth tones and bright colors.