Navy blue vintage hemp placemat (6)

DETAILS

• Size: 11.8” x 17.8” (30 cm x 45 cm), (size of jacket patch: 3.2” x 6.2” (8.2 cm x 15.7 cm)

• Front: handwork indigo-dyed hemp in different shades of navy blue, a carefully selected vintage part of Hmong jacket (shoulder sleeve) is attached for decoration.

• Reverse: Navy blue cotton

• Dry Clean or Wash with Cold Water & Mild Detergent

THE PROCESS

Manual hemp weaving

This unique placemat is using organic hemp with organic plant dye. Weaving hemp fabric is a labour-intensive process. The cultivation period occurs between April and October. Once the plants have been cut, the stems are laid along the ground for several weeks so the fibres are exposed. These must then be hand-wound to create a continuous yarn for weaving. The yarn is washed in ash and boiling water, which acts as a natural bleaching-agent, then crushed by foot-mill to produce a shiny and smooth finish. The complete textile is then woven manually on a wooden and bamboo loom.  The end result is a highly durable, hypo-allergenic material has been produced without the chemical treatment required by other plant materials.

Botanical indigo dyeing

Today’s traditional hand-dyeing techniques are quite strange in our modern lives, and almost dyeing process is mechanized with advanced techniques. However, The Hmong People still retain their tradition. This product is dyed with natural indigo, which is very close with Hmong People’s life. They are source of natural blue widely applied in hemp. Depending on how dark the artisan wants to make the material, repeated dyeing and drying may be required.

Please Note: Every item is one of a kind and no two are alike. The dyed palette comes from all-natural botanical pigments, and each product gets its unique character from washing and drying under the Vietnamese sun. Handmade items are not factory made; therefore these items may have minor imperfections that add to their vintage charm.  

( Source: Viethnic)