Hand Sewn

As seen from behind...

There shall always be something remarkably appealing to me about a hand sewn garment. We happen to live, for the majority of us anyhow, far removed from the processes that actually go into what we purchase and consume. One does not tend to see the initial stage of the wool of their scarf growing on the sheep or goat, nor does one see the shaving and processing of these fibers. Indeed one would be hard pushed to find an instance where one can even view the garment being made a craftsman, for the majority are spun and crafted not by the skilled and loving hand, but rather a methodically cold metal machine.

As such this scarf holds a special meaning to me, in that my mother actually saw the craftsman needling away his intricate designs. The scarf was finished by a careful hand, one trained not through books or a factory held course, but rather passed down, quite literally, by word of mouth, from generation to generation. It is that care, attention and inherent skill, that I value about the scarf, even though I myself was not able to witness the making. There is a pleasure in knowing how and where one's garment comes from, and the journey it took to where it is today.

Indeed I often wonder about many of the pieces that I own, and the journies they took in their making. It is easy to look at, say a sweater, and see just that. But for me, I note the fabric, and often imagine where it originated and the people invovled along the way. What stories would those people have to add to the garment and indeed, what a beautiful tapestry of tales would no doubt be spun out from the simplest of pieces.

I find that regardless of the season, there is always a scarf to be worn. And although the sun was shining brightly today, I was indoors feeling somewhat under the weather. Wrapping myself up in a warm cashmere shawl therefore, was rather an appealing thought. Indeed, so was the idea of imagining the story of the shawl, and the lives of the people who had touched it.

I decided to drape it over a simple hooded top, under which I wore a stretch dark grey top. For a more relaxed look, I opted to wear a pair of drop crotch cotton trousers, and my navy blue espradrilles. I wanted to create a comfortable and yet visually interesting look, which hopefully the shawl helped achieve. I decided to keep the colours in my clothing somewhat toned down, in an attempt to allow the beautifully rich coloured threads of the scarf to shine.

Currently playing: Cello Suite No.1 (Prelude) - Johann Sebastian Bach

xxxx