DETAILS:

The Ao Khoác one-of-a-kind throw pillow features three very different distinct textile surface variations including intricate indigo batik from Vietnam, ethnic Hmong embroidery on indigo hemp, and traditional ikat from Indonesia. The center panel is made from a vintage Hmong jacket. It is a unique decorative pillow that will add an element of ethnic textile distinctiveness to any room in which it is displayed.

• 19” x 19”

• Front – Cotton and hemp

• Back – polyester blend, in ecru

• Zipper closure

• Down duck feather pillow insert

• Fabric origin: Vietnam, Indonesia

THE STORY:

This is one of my favorite pillows featuring three beautiful fabrics which complement one another as well as tell a story. On the left is a Hmong indigo batik from Vietnam. This batik is from a traditional pleated skirt worn by the Hmong women. The intricate painting of the design is made using a beeswax resist, followed by indigo dyeing and accented with complementary red and yellow appliqued cotton stripes. I acquired several of these traditional skirts during visits to Craft Link, a fair trade organization that supports ethnic minority groups and traditional craft producers to revive and promote traditional culture and skills through handicraft production. Craft Link is located in Hanoi. I have visited Vietnam six times but not once did I have the opportunity to visit any of the Hill Tribes in the northern part of Vietnam, which is unfortunate because the textiles made by the Hill Tribes are notably some of my favorites

The center section is repurposed from a vintage Hmong jacket. The indigo fabric is handspun hemp and is pieced with colorful traditional Hmong style appliqued fabric and embellished with decorative cross-stitch embroidery patterns in rust, black, and white and is the traditional Hmong “flower” motif embroidery.

On the right is a beautiful example of Indonesian indigo ikat fabric. 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 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. The ikat fabric on the left in this pillow was woven by a group in Jepara, Java, called Syakila Collection. They are a producer member of Pekerti, the first fair trade organization in Indonesia, whom I have worked with for a long time.