Weaving AURA QUE Jacquard fabrics on wooden looms for our Summer bag range

AURA QUE has developed a range of jacquard fabrics with our producer in South Kathmandu.  The original Geometric Stripe version has been so popular in our Jogi Bag range that we have developed this design and the new Aztec pattern, into coloured versions in Purple/Green, Yellow/Pink/Purple and Red/Mustard/Purple for the late summer season.

On New Years Day, instead of the usual family activities, I went on a trip to visit our Jacquard woven fabric producer outside the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal.

This fabric in the striped black/white design that I chose, has been really popular with buyers and customers alike, so I wanted to find out how this fabric was produced.

Jacq_blog5

The cotton yarn is woven onto spindles (see below) using a variety of home made devices!

Jacq_spinning_blog4
Above: Spining the yarn onto the bobbins to be threaded onto the looms.

Jacq_blog2

The jacquard patterns are created on the mechanical wooden loom, controlled by punched cards with holes in specific places that correspond to rows in the fabric design.  This makes up the Geometric Stripe and Aztec fabric designs.  Different colours are introduced to get the colourful patterns, or the black and white version. Each plate makes up a series of lines of the pattern, so when they are linked together in different combinations, they make up the various patterns.  Its a really complicated process!

It takes one person a full day to make many metres, as the shuttle is fed by hand through the fabric to produce the cloth. So our current AURA QUE order is being made at the moment by hand, employing 4 workers on the machines. It is energetic work, and the clacking noise is loud and rhythmic when you are next to the machines.

Jacq_blog1

Once the right combination of plates have been secured together, and the loom has been set up, the shuttle is pulled side to side to build up the fabric.  The cloth is made by hand, so is a time consuming job!

Jacq_samples_blog3

We will have 6 colourways available over the summer for both our Jogi Bag range and our leather/jacquard bag range for more playful and colourful range by AURA QUE!!

All_aq_jacquard_blog

AURA QUE

AURA QUE

Website: www.auraque.com
Online Boutique: http://shop.auraque.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/auraque

AURA QUE creates a range of stylish contemporary accessories manufactured by the Nepal Fair Trade Group to increase ethical production in the developing country of Nepal.

Each AURA QUE design is brought to life in a Nepalese factory that employs local people affected by disabilities, providing an income for themselves and their families according to fair trade principles.
Designer Laura Queening incorporates local materials wherever possible, such as Allo hemp produced from a Himalayan plant, handmade brass fittings, natural textured Lokta paper and the traditional woven cloth.

AURA QUE products use high quality 100% Buffalo leather that is a by-product of the food industry. AURA QUE products are individually hand crafted in Nepal, which may result in slight variations. The unique story behind each AURA QUE product enhances its charm!

Archive

2013 (10)
Posterous theme by Cory Watilo