About Us
We are a small Hunter Valley NSW family-based business who love a good yarn…pardon the pun! We have had many adventures in the Himalayan regions, discovering the exquisite handmade natural fibres that are still being produced through traditional methods.
Having the opportunity to share these unique and beautiful pieces of the Himalaya with our local communities in Australia also supports many small communities with sustainable incomes. It is of the most importance that all our products are ethically sourced.
When you purchase our products, you are also contributing to the work of The Umbrella Foundation Australia a registered Australian charity working with many vulnerable communities Nepal.
Enjoy your purchase.
Namaste
Linda & Pete
About Cashmere
Cashmere is the finest, softest and warmest of natural fibres.
Cashmere is the natural fibre collected from the underbelly of Chyangra goats in the Himalayan region. The altitude and climate evolved the animals with superior heat insulation abilities.
The rarest cashmere in the world, comes from the small chyangra goats and requires approximately 15 days and the fibres of three goats to produce a single shawl. The fibers are so delicate that they’re mostly spun by hand. Chyangra cashmere is harvested when the Chyangra goats shed their warm winter coats in the spring. The fibers are collected from the fine, soft inner coat of their underbellies.
Locals then thoroughly comb the fibers to separate the fine wool from the thicker, coarser layer of wool that lies above it. Raw cashmere is extracted from the Chyangra goat, hand processed and hand-spun into yarn which is then woven into fabric on handlooms.
Handloom weaving is the oldest method of manufacturing lengths of fabric, producing a much more delicate fibre. It requires a mechanical device to be manually stroked to create a weft between warp threads and it creates a distinctive and desirable character with a wide variety of possibilities from herringbone to baskets, checks and stripes in varying fabric weights.
This method doesn’t require electrical power and maintains craft employment among the communities in Nepal.
About Hemp
Hemp is one of the strongest, most durable all-natural threads and is among the earth’s primary renewable resources!
Hemp is an excellent rotation crop: it crowds out weeds and its deep tap roots break up hard soils. It enriches soil and prevents erosion. One acre of hemp can produce as much usable fiber as 4 acres of trees or 2 acres of cotton.
Hemp fabric also requires fewer chemicals than cotton and is stronger and longer lasting. Hemp requires little water and grows in a wide variety of climates; it also doesn’t require the huge amounts of herbicides and pesticides and fertilizers.
About Silk
Silk is a natural protein fibre, where some forms can be woven into textiles. The best-known silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm.
Silk fabric is suitable for all climates and is a naturally self-adjusting fabric, cool in summer & warm in winter. It is believed to having healing properties and helps to calm a person.
As a natural protein fibre, silk is one of the most hypoallergenic fabrics and protects against allergens, dust mite, fungus and other growths.
Silk is the strongest fibre in the world which 30 times stronger than cotton, but with a lower density than cotton, nylon & wool. Silk fabric also has a tensile strength, nearly as strong as steel yarn.
Silk can also absorb moisture up to one third of its own weight without feeling damp.
About Rajasthan Block Print Cottons
India is the second largest producer of cotton in the world with majority grown organically in Rajasthan.
Our hand block printed cotton from Rajasthan, a region in northern India which is renowned for its centuries old printing traditions. It is believed the art form of block printing originated in Jaipur in the late 1700’s yet it is believed to have been practiced in India as early as the 12th century.
Each printing block is hand carved from teach wood and take up to a few days to complete a single block. Dependent on the design, 1 to 30 blocks may be used to achieve intricate patterns on various quilts & garments. All dyes used in the hand block printing are made from a blend of vegetable, mineral & chemical-based ingredients to ensure lasting colour.