Batik
[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]The craftsman creates batik using a small bronze tool full of liquid wax to paint by hand an intricate design in a piece of cloth. When the wax dries, the fabric is ready to be painted. The waxed points retain their natural color, remaining unaffected by the dye. Many times the process is repeated with various dyes to afford colorful designs.
Recent decades, the batik is gaining ground among the public, and is now a symbol of Indonesian national identity. In 2009, in recognition of the long history of batik in Indonesia and its impact on the local culture, UNESCO included it in the list of “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”
Hill tribe (Lanna)
[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]Hill tribe is a term used in Thailand for all of the various tribal people who inhabit the Northern region of Myanmar (Burma). They now inhabit the remote border areas between Northern Thailand, Laos and Burma (Myanmar). There are six main groups of hill tribe people — the Akha, Lahu, Karen, Hmong (or Miao), Mien (or Yao) and Lisu. These tribes have kept alive until today their traditional arts. Hill tribe fabrics are the most popular of these traditional products.
[/two_third_last]Mango wood
[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]Mango wood is an extremely beautiful hardwood, becoming very popular especially due to its far greater sustainability over other popular hardwoods such as oak or teak. It is a hard, dense timber, although is far lighter than most other hardwoods. The wood, though strong, is easy to cut and shape and as such, it lends itself beautifully to carving or turning as this allows the full range of colors to show through on the surface of the piece. Mango wood displays color properties unlike most other woods, it’s beautiful grain is often made up of many different colors and tones, ranging from a dark or light green through browns and light tan colors. This stunning grain looks lovely in its natural form but looks even better with a coat or two of beeswax polish and provides a look that betters with age. Mango wood vases and bowls show the best coloring and texture as the different carving and cut strokes reveal more diverse ranges of grain.
[/two_third_last]Teak wood
[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]Teak wood is one of the most expensive exotic woods and is considered the most durable and suitable for outdoor furniture. Due to the high content of oil, teak wood is used on aprons yachts and powerboats. It is used also for indoor flooring, countertops and indoor furniture. The maintenance of teak is minimal compared to other woods. Today in Central Java and Borneo, the Indonesian government has imposed very strict controls in relation to logging, handling and standardization of teak sold to producers of furniture or exported from the country. All our imports teak furniture is FSC Certified.
[/two_third_last]Thai silk
[one_third] [/one_third][two_third_last]Thai silk is famous for its special qualities produced through unparalleled manufacturing processes, bearing unique patterns and colours. Since traditional Thai silk is hand woven, each silk fabric is unique and cannot be duplicated through commercial means. In contrast, artificial silk is machine woven, which means that every part of the fabric is identical and has the same colour. In addition, Thai silk has a unique lustrousness, with a sheen that has two unique blends: one colour for the warp and another for the weft. Colour changes as you hold the Thai silk fabric at varying angles against light.
[/two_third_last]Indonesian carving
[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]Indonesia has a particularly rich tradition of Hindu-Buddhist sculpture and architecture using stone, bronze, iron, wood (and nowadays more modern materials like terracotta and Grc), and was strongly influenced by India from the 1st century AD onward.Sculpture flourished between the 8th and 10th centuries AD in Java and Bali, taking the form of free-standing statues or relief sculptures incorporated into temples. They are characterized by their delicacy and serenity of expression.The native Indonesians tribes have their own distinct tribal sculpture styles, usually created to depict ancestors, deities and animals. Today in Indonesia, the richest, most elaborate and vivid wooden sculpture and wood carving traditions can be found in Bali and Jepara. Jepara wood carving is famous for its elaborately carved wooden furnitures.
[/two_third_last]Buckwheat and Kapok filling
[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]Kapok has been the traditional fill for cushions for thousands of years. It is a fluffy cotton-like material that comes from the Kapok trees of Asia and in some regions of Southern United States and Central and South America. The Kapok trees grow enormous seed pods that, when mature, burst open to reveal the downy material laden with tiny seeds. Though the kapok cushions can flatten with use, they can be revived by squeezing and fluffing up the cushion. This will also restore lift.Buckwheat, with the botanical name Fagopyrum esculentum, is a plant cultivated for its grain-like seeds, and also used as a cover crop.
Buckwheat hulls are used as filling for a variety of upholstered goods, including pillows and zafu. The hulls are durable and do not conduct or reflect heat as much as synthetic fills. They are sometimes marketed as an alternative natural fill to feathers for those with allergies. Especially with Sage Meditation’s Zafus and other meditation cushions, the Buckwheat Hull cushions are adjustable. They each have a zippered opening, which we use to fill the cushions. This opening will allow you to remove and re-add buckwheat hulls to adjust the height and comfort of the cushion. Buckwheat hulls conform to the shape of the body and provide a grounded feel.
[/two_third_last]Neti pot
[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]The Neti Pot naturally cleanses, refreshes, and protects the nasal passages, one of our body’s first lines of defense against illness. Recommended today by doctors and pharmacists worldwide, the Neti Pot has been used for thousands of years in ayurvedic medicine to alleviate sinus and allergy problems.
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