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Diwali, Divali, Deepavali, Tihar, Yam Panchak, Swanti: A Festival of Lights with Many Names

Whereas this five day multi-faith festival may have many names and be celebrated differently amongst different cultures, this Festival of Lights focuses on “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over power” through illumination, celebration, family, and community.

To better understand the difference between celebrations in the two countries we asked two of our friends and coworkers, Deepak from New Delhi and Dilli from Kathmandu, to tell us about their Diwali experiences...

Guatemalan Huipiles: Mayan Tradition, Culture, and History

Like the mythical Quetzalcoatl, colorful huipil fabrics are deeply symbolic of Mayan culture and history. This artform supports countless communities, families, indigenous groups and individuals while helping to keep ancient traditions alive...

If you are seeking protection, positivity, wisdom, or strength for yourself, your family, or your life it is a good idea to adorn your space with symbolic elephant totems. Where will you put yours?

Elephant Symbolism: Meaning of the Elephant as an Animal Totem

Traditionally, elephants are considered a symbol of good luck, wisdom, fertility, and protection. Wearing or placing an elephant totem or symbol in your home with its trunk raised is thought to attract good fortune, as it showers its positive energy out of the trunk and into all surrounding beings and spaces...

Meet The Maker: Kai & Natna from Thailand 🇹🇭

Kai & Natna are two lovely buddhist women who made their way to Thailand from Myanmar via the "Friendship Bridge" that connects the two countries in search of opportunity. They ended up in Bangkok, one of the busiest and arguably the craziest city in the world, and it is there that they found their talents in the textile business. They worked hard to get to the place that they are today, and their wonderful senses of style have culminated in their unique sense of design that brings elegance and eccentricity to the fashion industry.

Carly and Kim, our own dynamic duo, love working, laughing and sharing ideas with Kai and Natna. Most of the time they are together they are all sitting on the floor throwing ideas and samples around to see what sticks. "Kai and Natna are no-nonsense, and will tell us if our designs are bad, then we will giggle it all away and start from scratch." - Kim Erskine

Mexican Blankets & Baja Hoodies: A History

You have probably seen these colorful Mexican textiles around college campuses, at music festivals, yoga shalas, and drum circles all over the country. From the summer of love to surf and skateboard culture, these patterns have become synonymous with counterculture movements as a free-flying flag of hippie style. Whether you had one in high school, or you still have one in the back of your car to keep you cozy around a campfire, iconic Baja hoodies and falsa blankets are nostalgic symbols of simpler times...

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