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Stories from the global community
Come along on the journey!
Day 78: Elegant Textiles Transformed in India
Destination:
Delhi, India
Delhi is a walled city on the Jumna River, a tributary of the Ganges river, in north central India.
Delhi has seen civilization, politics, and commerce since the 6th century BC. The city of Delhi actually consists of two components: Old Delhi in the north is the the historic city, and New Delhi in the south. Delhi is of great historical significance as an important commercial, transport, and cultural hub, as well as the political center of India.
Delhi has a semi-arid climate with strong monsoon winds between June and September. Summer in the city is long and hot. Winters in Delhi are cool and dry with cold air from Himalayas bringing frequent fogs. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 46°F to 103°F.
Fun Facts:
Delhi is the second most populated city in the world after Tokyo. Amazingly, 20% of the city's landmass is forests and parks which makes it one of the greenest cities in the country. Delhi has the largest number of bird species after Nairobi, Africa.
Art Form:
Pieced Vintage and Recycled Sari Textiles
These exquisitely pieced and embroidered textiles or wall hangings have been handcrafted by women of Northern India. Using recycled vintage cotton or silk saris, the hand-work and embroidery represent a whole range of varying styles. These present a richly textured map of regions and ethnic groups. Each style, a distinct combination of stitches, patterns and colors, are influenced by historical, socio-economic and cultural factors.
Beautiful vintage hand embroidered textiles will add color and elegance to your living space. These stunning vintage patchwork tribal tapestries can make a beautiful bedspread or sofa throw, a lovely wall hanging or table runner. They will surely transform any interior.
In India the elephant is a symbol of beauty, power, dignity, intelligence and peace. T
he elephant is a sacred animal in Hinduism and is considered the representation of the living incarnation of Ganesh, one of the most important Hindu gods. Ganesh is the god of success and the destroyer of obstacles and evils.
The Artists: Kanak and Radha Kumar
We don't always get to know the artisans that make the beautiful and unusual textiles we carry
at World's Window, but today we get to meet Kanak and Radha Kumar, two very talented, industrious and creative textile artisans. Teresa Lemman from Culturas Trading Company met them many years ago in the textile bazaar in Delhi, India. They had a small booth selling their wall hangings made from vintage saris and antique embroideries. Their handiwork stood out because of the beautiful color combination and careful attention to detail of the pieces they produced together.
Teresa placed a small order with them, and they worked very hard, puzzled their way through shipping and exporting problems, and delivered a beautiful assortment of textiles to Culturas on time. Their relationship has developed and grown through the years because of their trust in one another, their hard work and their dedication to helping each other.
The Company:
Culturas Trading Company
Culturas Trading Company was started in 1995 by Theresa Lemman and Kymberlie Landgraf because of their love for folk art and interest in helping to preserve the traditional crafts of Mexico and India. The business was started on little more than a shoestring, with lots of faith, enormous trust and often a little bit of luck. They have traveled thousands of miles, had many adventures and have always managed to climb up, over and sometimes under the many learning curves which always appear in the pursuit of handicrafts.
Their long term relationships with family, friends and especially their talented artists has encouraged them to build a business that benefits everyone fairly. In India they work directly with artisans, as well as purchasing from fair trade co-operatives and suppliers which have received certification for meeting set standards for fair wages and working conditions.
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Shopping . . .
Are you ready to explore
what we have in our store?
These wall hangings, table runners and bed spreads are exquisite in their details and an amazing re-use of saris and other antique embroideries.
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Don't forget to stamp your Passport!
Click on the
"stamp" to add to your "passport."
We keep track of your stamps for you!
"Collect" at least 12 different "country" stamps during the fourth 20 days of our around-the-world trip to
be entered
into the drawing for a $25 gift card.
Only TWO more days to complete your stamps
between days 60 and 80!
At the end of our 80-day
Around the World
excursion, all eligible travelers (minimum of 48 country stamps)
will be
entered into a drawing for . . .
a Grand Prize
$100 shopping spree gift card!
Thanks for traveling with us today.
Where to next? Stay tuned!
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From the moment I first saw a pieced sari wall hanging, I fell in love with the patchwork that resulted in stunning, renewed art. Perhaps it was the link to my own family history with pieced quilts. Maybe it was a sense of surprise with the seemingly randomness of the patches that resulted in a beautiful, completed textile. Today I'm thinking about the different "stories" behind each of the pieces and the lives they touched before being joined together into new artwork.
And so it has been on our "Around the World in 80 Days" journey. This journey's "patchwork quilt" has been pieced of many things: the stories of the artisans, their artwork, the people that connect us, and the responses from so many of you on how these stories have touched you.
Yes, this part of our "Around the World" journey is coming to a close, but that doesn't mean an ending. As happens with all trips, there is a time to disembark and return home which means a new adventure can start. So, get ready to celebrate in the next two days, and then see what we're up to next!
Our online store is, of course, open 24 hours a day. Our Brookside store is CLOSED today (Tuesday) through Wednesday until 4:00 pm.
Our VIP Preview Sale for Sidewalk Days will be on Wednesday from 4:00 to 6:00.
Plan to join us on the sidewalk to get first choice at all the great discounts of 50 to 75% off!
Masks will be required both outside and inside the store. See more details below.
Our current hours are posted below my signature. We look forward to seeing you!
For those of you who cannot or choose not to shop in our Brookside store right now, we thank you for your continued online shopping support.
And I can't say it enough times -
YOU are an important part of what makes World's Window so special! THANK YOU!
World's Window
"Nobody can define you like you."
P.S.
We are glad to be on this around-the-world virtual journey with you and delighted that you are traveling with us. We hope you are learning some new information as we travel along.
If you haven't already done so, invite some friends to come along! There's still room on this journey!
Send an invite
P.P.S.
We're keeping our trip "log" up to date. If you think you've missed a day or are new to our journey, click
here
to review where we've visited the last 77 days.
CLOSED Monday and Tuesday
CLOSED Wednesday until 4 pm
OPEN Wednesday, 4 to 6 pm for VIP Preview Sale
OPEN Thursday through Saturday, 10 am - 6 pm
Sunday, 12 noon to 5 pm
As always we are "sharing the world" through clothing, jewelry, folk art, textiles and hand-selected gifts -
and
buying locally-owned is a gift to your community!
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Mark your calendar!!
Come to our VIP Preview Sale -
Wednesday, July 8 from 4 to 6 pm
Beat the Thursday crowds for first choices on discounts of
50 - 75% off!
Masks required both outside and inside our store.
Hand sanitizer available.
(for more details about these events, click on the poster above)
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A gift card is always a perfect gift.
We have 2 options for
World's Window gift cards.
In-store gift cards can also be purchased by calling
us at 816-361-2500.
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See what's happening on our social sites:
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