Block Printing & Hand Stitching: Mehera Shaw
Our latest collaboration, Slow Tide, is a limited-edition collection that blends textiles and ceramics, created alongside Tasmanian ceramic artist Kate Bowman. This collection reflects our shared love for slow, intentional design.
Kate's inlaid clay work, where she blends two colors of clay to create bold, organic shapes, immediately inspired me. I could see her designs translating beautifully into textiles through block printing and patchwork.
Kate created a set of tiles for us with her inlaid patterns, which we brought to our Fair Trade artisans at Mehera Shaw in Jaipur, India. There, our patterns were hand-carved into wooden blocks, which were then used to create the unique motifs for block printing and kantha stitching throughout the collection, including napkins, cushions, and kantha quilts.
In April 2024, I visited Mehera Shaw to meet the artisans behind the block printing and stitching. Seeing the blocks we designed and witnessing the kantha quilts being hand-stitched was an incredible experience, reminding me of the time, effort, and artistry involved in every step of the process.
We are deeply grateful for the dedication and expertise of the artisans at Mehera Shaw, whose skills brought the collection to life. Every step—from carving the wooden blocks to mixing dyes and stamping patterns—carries the heritage of block printing, which shines through in every detail. Slow Tide is a true celebration of creativity, made with love and care by hands all over the world.
Learn more about Mehera Shaw and the work they do here.
“We work with block prints because we love every part of making a printed piece of fabric—from hand-drawing the designs, to carving the blocks, mixing the colours, and stamping the prints by hand. It connects us all on a human level.” Mehera Shaw
