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| Boho style on the runway |
The layering of hippie, folk, romantic, flowing
cotton blouses, beaded necklaces, leather and metal accents, and
ethnic-inspired textiles is everywhere. The bohemian look has come and
gone many times, each reincarnation with a new twist. Boho Chic reigns
again in 2012.
Traveling to the Mideast, my
grandparents, Fran and Harry, brought back wonderful carpets and kilims. Growing up with
these rugs under my
feet influenced my gravitation toward textural graphic textiles and
designs. My grands were also savvy in the modern design department. I have
their well-worn Eames-style lounge chairs—they would
be fun to recover, boho style, like this one at
bokjadesign.com.)
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| Eames, meet Boho |
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I joke a little when I say "I make hippie bags," but
as unique as the tradition of weaving, each bag in my
Caravan Collection is made from one of a
kind kilim prayer rugs. I am at peace with the spirit of
bohemia—a sense of adventure, a modern riff on tradition, and for me, a feeling of home. Hippie bags are OK!
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New bags from my Caravan Collection
© 2012 Heather Graef/Gstudi |
A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE KILIM
The kilim is believed to have its
origins in the tribal flatweaves of Central Asia. While kilims may have
been in production as early as 3,000 BC, the slitweave technique seen in Kilim rugs is thought to have originated around
1,000 BC, related to much older flatwoven textiles discovered at Fostat in Egypt.
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| Scorpion |
Before Kilims became decorative items
they were an essential part of life in tribal communities. For practical
purposes, they were used as floor coverings,
protection from the elements, and to store grains
and other goods. However each was woven with
symbolic imagery, telling a unique story in the life of the weaver.
Modern kilims still incorporate many of these symbols.
A KILIM FOR YOU!
Select bags from the Caravan Collection will be available at local events, and in my online shop by the summer.
Click here to like my Facebook page for updates.
Channel your inner-Boho sooner, and click here for some lovely kilim wallpapers for your computer screen:
http://www.kilim.com/wallpaper/index.asp
References: kilim.com, letsgoturkey.com
