| WHAT'S NEW | |
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OUR GALLERY | |
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ZAWA | |
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| introduction | |
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showcase | |
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the ZAWA story | |
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Japan journal |
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| First
of all, the word "zawa" is reputed to be the sound
that the silkworms make when munching on mulberry leaves for sustenance:
zawa zawa zawa zawa zawa zawa zawa zawa zawa zawa zawa zawa
zawa zawa zawa, according to our partner
in crime, Takako Ueki. So, it seemed a name to appropriate for
our new collection. Second, we've been working for nearly 5 years with our good friend and amazing garment maker, Gwen Spencer of Oregon. Gwen has been helping us create our Galleryline of separates from commercial silks, linens, and wools since Winter of 2000. Just when you think that you might get bored producing the same things, week after week, Jill and Barbara go to Japan on a client and resourcing trip, and bring back boatloads of contemporary silks and wools. We brought Gwen to Santa Fe to work out shapes and details, spent this past summer (2004) incubating and sampling the collection, and voila... Zawa Collection is launched. Gwen has a traveler's spirit in her blood, so her fascination and appreciation of textiles from around the world is well-grounded. |
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She
was raised in Sierra Leone, Africa, spent 3 years in the Peace
Corps in Guatemala, and lived subsequently for 3 years in Nepal,
before settling back down in Corvallis. Through a coincidence,
or a match meant to be, we discovered each other through Santa
Fe Weaving Gallery's Design with Heart Conference in 1996, and
re-connected in 1999, to work together on projects for the gallery. The Zawa collection is truly a collaborative give-and-take involving Jill and Barbara, co-owners of the Santa Fe Weaving Gallery, Alice Watterson, our associate who advises on details, Susan Summa who asks for what she wants to wear, and whose design background is a constant support, and Gwen Spencer, who brings a great knowledge about couture finishing, and her own aesthetic which amplifies our own. Our clients share our interest and "hunger" for the "next great idea", and egg us on to pursue new possibilities. Our website designer, Anne Geiger, has helped us to shape our Zawa logo and graphic identity, and joined us on our trip to Japan in May-June, 2004. Her impressions, photography and intimate connection to our business has helped us to craft our Zawa look. The last leg of our Japan journey in Summer 2004, after our clients went back to the States, took us north of Tokyo, with the fun and inspiring leadership of Takako. She generously introduced us to her resources, knowing that we would come back loaded down with textiles produced by her contacts. Because of her connections, we saw silkworms in mulberry heaven, learned what is involved in handreeling dupioni (Akagi) silks, met the kasuri-dyer for the Kosugi Weaving House, along with one of their weavers, shared sake and sea urchins (not Jill--still sea urchin-free) with Kosugi-san and Ishida-san and their families, while we selected from among several "hot off the loom" kimono rolls to turn into who knows what. Our story goes on, and hopefully will continue; we look forward to returning many times to Japan, (and invite our colleagues and collectors to join us), and to making new jackets, vests, coats, tops, and other Artisan shapes for our collectors to collect. We hope that you'll enjoy our adventure and be a part of it.
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© Santa Fe Weaving Gallery
2006 All Rights Reserved
124 1/2 Galisteo, Santa Fe, NM 87501 toll-free 866-982-1737
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Santa Fe Weaving Gallery
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