BLOCK PRINT

In Guadalupe design we use the block printing as a method of printing our textiles by stamping ink-dipped blocks— usually made from wood or linoleum—onto fabric. This technique is one of the simplest ways to create custom fabric at home. It allows us to be creative with our designs. One of the wonderful things about block printing is that you have absolute control over the colors, motif, and repeat of your print. This amount of control gives you a chance to create fabric that is unique to us. The earliest known examples of block prints come from China over 2,000 years ago. From there, it spread to India. It didn't reach Europe until hundreds of years later. Block printing continued to be commonly used in Asia until the 19th century, when it was replaced by modern developments in print-making. At first, block printing was only used for artwork printed on fabric. Later, it was also applied to paper. You can find our beautiful robes at: www.guadalupedesign.com.

 

Spectacular Toya Montoya is wearing our Tibet Tropical Bird dress.

 

 

Our Garden tunic, it’s an easy, breezy maxi tunic to enjoy the enjoy the summer weather.

 

 

 

  

SHIBORI

Bound resist dye methods, which we know as tie-dye, have been around almost as long as civilization itself. Many cultures have contributed techniques to this ancient craft. Perhaps none have contributed as widely as the Japanese, who began developing their methods, known as shibori, as early as the 8th century. Shibori traditionally uses natural dyes, most often indigo. Dyers pleat, sew, tie, bind, or even wrap the fabric around a pole. Let’s look at these different methods now: For itajime, or shape-resist, shibori, the cloth is first folded, then pressed between blocks of wood and secured with clamps or ties. The wood resists the dye and leaves a repeating pattern on the finished cloth. Shapes can be simple, such as square or rectangular blocks, triangular, or more elaborate, with wood shapes cut into various free form designs. 

 

Catalina Aristizabal is wearing our Shibori tunic which is tie-dye manually by our artisans. The tunic is paired with the beaded evil eye raffia basquet. The Shibori tunic is the most confortable and easy to wear to start your summer.

 

 

JAMDANI 

The art of weaving is exactly that—an art. It requires skill, precision and rhythm, which when repeated over and over, produces a delicate weave. Jamdani weaves, however, require more than this. Since the defining aspect of this textile are its rich motifs, which are all intricately added by hand, Jamdani is touted as the most advanced hand weaving technique in the world. Each motif has to be inlaid into the fabric by adding denser threads to fine warp threads, and this process is so time intensive that on a usual day, an artisan can weave only between a quarter and one inch of fabric. That shockingly translates to a year if we're looking at a handwoven Jamdani sari. No wonder the traditional art of weaving Jamdani was declared a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013. In Guadalupe Design we will help you to understand the nuances of weaving this fabled fabric. Jamdani is a discontinuous weft technique of weaving, and can be defined as the art of fine ‘Parsi Gara' done on the loom. In Jamdani, motifs are inlaid into the fabric by adding a denser thread to fine warp threads by hand. This process is considered the most time intensive and one of the most advanced hand weaving techniques in the world. Jamdani weaving is like tapestry work where small shuttles of coloured, gold or silver threads pass through the weft. Designs range from the “butidar” (wherein the entire sari is dispersed with florals), the “tercha” (diagonally striped florals), or “jhalar” (a network of floral motifs). You can find dresses for you with this incredible technique at: www.guadalupedesign.com

 

Beautiful Daniela Botero wearing our Chelsea Blue Maxi Dress. This dress is handmade by artisans using the Jamdani technique. 

 

 

And beautiful mom Katie Morgan matching in our India Mini dress.

 

 

WEAVING 

Weaving is a method of textile production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. Other methods are knitting, crocheting, felting, and braiding or plaiting. The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the lateral threads are the weft or filling. Weaving uses two types of threads: the warp and the weft. ... Weft threads are laced over and under and run horizontally to the warp threads. By working the warp and weft threads at right angles, a weaver can create fabric materials like cloth, carpets, or tapestries. The way the warp and filling threads interlace with each other is called the weave. The majority of woven products are created with one of three basic weaves: plain weave, satin weave, or twill. Woven cloth can be plain (in one colour or a simple pattern), or can be woven in decorative or artistic design.

 

Here we can appreciate intricate hand weaving and beading embellishments for special garments

 

 

 

OUR ARTISANS - WAYUU 

La Guajira desert, located in northeastern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela, has been the traditional territory of the Wayuu indigenous group, even since before the arrival of the Europeans to America. The Wayuu are currently the largest indigenous group of these two countries, and one of which preserves and protects its culture the most. Organized in matrilineal clans, the Wayuu children carry their mother's last name, making the Wayuu women not only the center of the family but cultural leaders as well. One of the most significant aspects of culture that the Wayuu women practice is the art of weaving. Each Wayuu mother teaches her daughter how to weave and crochet, keeping the tradition as alive and vibrant as ever. To the Wayuu, weaving is a symbol of wisdom, intelligence, and creativity. Some crafts are made by women while others are exclusively handcrafted by men, such as their traditional hat. The Wayuu hat is woven in the Rancherias. The artisans tell their magical stories and world appreciations through the geometry of their weaves performed with the “sarga” or diagonal technique. These hands have the gift of a storytelling heritage. The designs of the handcrafts evoke the daily life of the Wayuu society and its artisans get inspired by those cultural and natural elements that surround them. Today is the world Indigenous People’s Day. Despite all the struggle they show us pride, dignity and style. They are very talented artisans and they maintain and protect their millenaries traditions and culture.

 

Wayuu womens

 

 

ABOUT THE TECHNIQUE

 

Wayuu Clutches:

Woven by the Wayuu women using the "tapizado" technique. The Wayuu have a Myth that transcends to their daily lives. The wise spider Wale’keru, taught the women of the tribe how to weave. She also taught them how to get inspiration from their dreams, nature, people around them and their personal human experience. More than just a bag it must be an extension of oneself. Weaving shows the true character of a Wayuu Woman.

Wayuu Hats:

Distinguished by their high circular crown and the multiple geometric shapes that are woven into the crown and brim. A central feature of traditional Wayuu dress for both men and women, each hat takes about eight hours to weave and is made with a single diagonal weaving technique that makes the hats remarkably strong and hard wearing.

 

Our Wayuu Mochilas | Multi-Color

 

 

Our Wayuu Hats 

 

 

OUR ARTISANS – USIACURÍ

At the colombian caribbean zone is located Usiacurí, a full of culture and tradition town that was founded 480 years ago by the Mocana Indigenous tribe. It is one of the most important artisan and cultural places known in that zone of the country. Their colorfull crafts, woven on Iraca straw, are the inheritance of a technique taught through generations. Usiacuri is an artisan town, but the principal material for the carft work, the iraca, is not a typical type of straw in that zones, so the artisans has to bring it from Sandona, a Nariño state town. The artisans use different types of stitches as nudillo, flor de paja, mimbre and estrellita, wich give the crowns multiple textures and shapes, turning them in to a trend accessory with a sense of style and originality.

 

New colors and shapes of the Galapagos bags handmade by the artisans of Usiacuri Colombia. We work with proud to preserve the millenary traditions and culture of our artisans.