Gingham, Ikat, Kuba

No I am not trying to speak Chinese but Fabric!

Gingham is an adjective in the Malaye language ging-gang meaning funnily enough striped. Because when this fabric was originally imported into Europe it was striped, however, today Gingham fabric is always referred to its checkered pattern!

This is probably the most wellknown Gingham furniture! in the business, the Swedish Hasten mattress

However, some others have also been inspired by the checkered fabric

The Chinese born Canadian fashion designer designed these Gingham Patio chairs. They came out earlier this year made of hand woven faux wicher (i.e. plastic!). I actually think they are quite smart looking.

Yes this is the famous Ikat which is a word from an Indonesian language meaning cord, thread or knot. It is a weaving method. Threads are tied in knots dyed and then untied and woven into cloth,  so all those patterns are determined by where the knots are placed before the string is even dyed.

I really like this very unusual circular headboard, beautiful green

Here the Ikat has upholstered the walls

This beautiful purple really pops up the chair

Ikat on a great piece of vintage tea set

Kuba cloth is a vegetable dyed tightly woven textile using the strands of raffia palm leaves. The Kuba Kingdom was a pre-colonial Central African state today Congo.

This pattern gives a real contemporary look easily placed wherever

The Kuba artisans of Congo hand cut, dye (using mud, indigo or substances from the carn wood tree) and then weave the strips of leaf to make the fabric. No two pieces are the same.

This wool felted mat inspired by Kuba cloth is designed by studio Stansborough from New Zealand