Culture by the Yard
“In every work of art, the spirit of the place breathes.”
Below are just a few of the cultural fabrics we’ve used in our crafting projects to add a mix of beauty and utility to our world.
Saekdong Korean Cultural Fabric
The Saekdong fabric has always been a part of our family’s lives, mainly through Hanboks (traditional Korean clothing), a favorite blanket that was upcycled into heart-shaped heating pads. And now beautiful flowers!
Saekdong means “many colored” and is said to ward off evil spirits and attract prosperity. The stripes vary in color but traditionally are red, blue, yellow, green, white and black.
To learn more about Saekdong, please visit the Korean American Center and Korea.net.
Aboriginal Art Cultural Fabric
“Bambillah” by Nambooka
Who knew we’d learn to appreciate larvae and ants as art? Nambooka’s intent was to portray the spiritual world in the eyes of native Australians. We think it’s working. What do you think?
In addition to Nambooka, some of our favorite Aboriginal artists include Tanya Price Nangala, Audrey Nanagarri, Audrey Martin Napanangka, Janet Long Nakamarra, Cindy Wallace, Jean Nampajinpa Hudson, Colleen Wallace, Marie E. Ellis, Heather Kennedy, Shirleen Campbell, and Jeannie Pitijara. Links to some of their fabrics are included below.
To learn more about Aboriginal Art, please visit ArtArk.
African Cultural Fabric
Inspired by loved ones and our ancestry profile, we selected African prints from west, central and north Africa for some of our crafts.
To learn more about African patterns and textiles, please visit Nigerian Artistry, The Met Museum: Essential Art of African Textiles, The Evolution of Contemporary African Textile Art (Abdoulaye Konate), Arts & Culture & Evo Sonaike.
Pakistani Truck Art
We learned of “Pakistani truck art” on social media. How glorious!
This one was one of our favorites:
Our Flowers
Flowers often mark a special occasion. When a woman wears a flower, she is the special occasion. Our flower hair pins are big and bold, infusing personal decor with rich cultural and historical significance.
View more flowers on our #WallofPretty.
Our Tissue Box Covers
Here’s Coach TJ showing off her near-fatal sewing wound with our prototype tissue box covers.
Our tissue box covers are typically made as part of a set… parent/child, husband/wife, etc. When reaching for a tissue when sick or sad, we feel that there’s a soothing connection to a loved one through the counterpart in the set.
Each cover has two pockets! What would you keep in yours?
More beautiful fabrics on our radar:
Love a cultural fabric? Please share with us on Twitter/X: @village_values!
