Based on the traditional art of Ikat weaving which originated
in Cambodia, a man by the name of Daniel Flickinger decided to create Push Pull
– a fun and luxury accessories brand that brings together a unique combination
of historical handmade techniques and modern design. If you’re a fan if
brights, spots and stripes, then you’re going to LOVE the designs this brand
has to offer.
The idea for the company arose back in 2008 when Dan visited
Takeo Province (Cambodia) for the first time, where Ikat weaving is a way of
life for people – in every home you are guaranteed to find at least one wooden
handloom. Takeo boasts a high number of very skilled artisans which impressed
Dan and left him pondering. Deeply saddened by the sheer poverty of the region,
and wanting to celebrate this amazingly rich weaving culture, he decided to put
the locals’ skills to good use.
Cheu Teal Village in Takeo Province is now home to a PushPull Cambodia weaving centre where approximately 46 artisans are employed, who
each specialise in different phases of Ikat. Tying, dyeing, spinning, and
weaving – you name it, they do it; and all of these traditional techniques are
carried out by hand creating pieces that are truly one of a kind. Push Pull’s
goal is to stimulate a renaissance of Cambodian Ikat, and thus provide
long-term employment and an improved quality of life for its artisans and their
families.
And just a little bit more info for you: Cambodian Ikat
patterns are actually commonly passed down verbally from generation to
generation, so when you purchase an item from Push Pull you’re purchasing
something with a whole lot of cultural value and meaning, and you’re helping to
keep a beautiful age old tradition alive.
When has shopping on the high street
ever offered you that?
Take a look at a few of the gems that Push Pull Cambodia
have to offer (I can feel what’s left of my overdraft slipping away already):
No comments:
Post a Comment