Tropical Dreams

The end of February is when we start dreaming of warm weather, flip flops, and sunny days. Based on the weather the last few days and weeks (at least here in much of the U.S.), we need a little help keeping that dream going.

What's better to get you in a tropical mood than vibrant batiks, like these from our new Tropicana Bali collection? Smaller swatches just don't do these glorious designs justice, so we're showing larger pieces of some of our favorite designs.

Hello, glorious color!

Love the darker green and lime combination!

This motif looks like little fireworks!

You've heard neon is making a comeback...who knew it would even show up in batiks?

Beige-gold on white...a unique combo.

Great depth and texture in a bamboo motif (shown in two colorways).

For an instant infusion of color, you can see a preview of the entire collection here on our Facebook page. These beauties will be in shops later this spring.

Also, we're not only about beauty, we're about substance too. Here's your lesson for the day.
Have you ever wondered how batiks are made? These special fabrics come from Indonesia (Bali is a province in Indonesia), and have a long, rich history.

• When Dutch explorers arrived in Bali in the 1500s, they found ceremonial robes and headwear made from fabrics unlike anything they'd ever seen. These fabrics were created with natural fibers and dyes, and the motifs on them had special significance. 
• Centuries later, the same hand-dyeing techniques are still used. Cottons are triple-dyed, which means that each yard of fabric can have over 50 different colors on it. 
• You can see the artistry of individual dyers in batiks--dyes are applied by hand and in different ways to create special effects. It's a skill that is passed down from generation to generation in Indonesia.
• Batiks are hand-dyes that feature particular motifs, such as leaves, animals or flowers. Artist use a wax resist process to create these designs. Motifs are etched onto a coper plate attached to a wooden handle. Hot wax is applied to the plate, and the plate is pressed into the fabric. When the fabric is submerged into the dye, the dye will not penetrate the areas covered in wax. The wax is later removed, and the motifs are visible!  

When you look at batiks, consider the handwork and artistry that goes into producing them--amazing! What do you envision making with these Tropicana Balis?