SLOW MADE in Indonesia…

With over 17,000 tropical islands to call home, Indonesia is a cultural fascination. From batik to betel nuts and every island culture in between, this region has some of the world's poorest places but so rich with traditions.

Threads of Life work directly with more than 35 artisan groups on islands from Kalimantan to Timor, to help empower and preserve ancient cultures unique to this great archipelago.

IMAGE: The Hinggi is traditionally worn by Sumbanese men with the unique motifs announcing a man’s social status. Photo © Threads of Life.

SLOW MADE in India: Dabu and woodblock printing

Woodblock printing in India is an old-world trade that still produces mile after mile of beautiful fabrics that could easily wrap the world!

Jeremy Fritzhand is the founder behind Studio Bagru in Rajasthan. He's been collaborating with these traditional artisans for years and is on a mission to help protect and empower these hard-working communities, so that their ancestral craftsmanship never fades. He takes us through the process of this 4000-year-old tradition… one manual woodblock print at a time.

Photo: Namdev Krishi Farm communal drying space in Bagru, India. Photo by Studio Bagru.

SLOW STAY in Morocco: Berber Lodge

If your travel dream is to get lost in the chaos of souks and side streets in Marrakech, well… we’ve discovered a slow stay not far away… to rest your weary feet and take your mind to a million worlds away…

Photo © Berber Lodge.

NEW TO STORE…

Paris. London. New York. These locations are synonymous with fashion. But there’s another location emerging, all wild with fresh colour and traditional style… hello Ghana!

To introduce our very first artisan brand to SHIBUI store* we reached out to the owner and creative director behind AAKS, Akosua Afriyie-Kumi. Her vibrant ambition has manifested into a world-class accessories brand, and although 2020 started in a great cloud of uncertainty, the global wave of ‘black lives matter’ lifted spirits and Akosua’s team in Ghana have since been busy slow-making AAKS beautiful bags to keep up with the exciting new demand.

* We only support slow, fair, natural and traditional artisan brands.

Tammy Kanat: Textile Artist

Australian fibre artist Tammy Kanat lets colour, shape and mood dictate her fabulous hand-woven pieces. After 12 years as a jewellery designer, Tammy fell in love with art at the opposite end of the size spectrum and now her wall art has made its way around the world.

Slow MadeSHIBUI & Co.March 24, 2019shibuiandco, meetthemaker, australia, traditional, artisan, textile, tammykanat, fibre, artist, melbourne

Thomas Bexon: Surfboard Shaper

We interview surfer and surfboard shaper Thomas Bexon from Thomas Surfboards in Noosa Heads, who shares his true-blue connection with Australia's world-renowned surf culture and the art of designing surfboards for all walks and waves.

Image: Ben Osborne Photo

SHIBUI & Co. HQ

AWARD WINNER 2021: ‘Best slow travel curation agency, australia.’ (business excellence awards, Acquisition International, UK)

award WINNER 2020 ‘Best Cultural Tourism Publisher’ (business excellence awards, Acquisition International, UK)