Grandfather Jacket
$1,270.00
Grandfathers wear this traditional jacket as they farm and guide water-buffalo across the gleaming rice patties.
They "leave for work" at sunrise, walking along foot trails through the mountain forest, then return at the end of the day leisurely smoking from a curvy long pipe of bamboo.
Their calm and confident demeanor as they walk home is striking, perhaps a reflection of living on their own ancestral land.
They wear indigo-dyed clothing because it repels insects and mosquitos while they are farming. As an herbal medicine, indigo is a natural antiseptic and cooling on the skin. This jacket was dyed in natural indigo six times over two weeks to achieve a deep saturation.
This traditional style was made from heavy cotton fabric hand-woven by a grandmother 40+ years ago. It was stored in wooden trunks in a village home, waiting to, one day, be transformed into the perfect jacket.
The heavy hand-spun fabric feels soft against the skin while the unlined interior reveals the lovingly hand-sewn seams inside.
The asymmetrical jacket is cut selvedge-to-selvedge and zero-waste by design. Fabric knot buttons and patch pockets decorate the front.
Shown here in Dark Indigo.
Style 01622
Non-stretch fabric.
Fits true to size, take your normal size. For a looser fit, take the next size up.
Those with broad shoulders may take the next size up.
Model is 175 cm/5'9" and is wearing a size Small.
S = size 4 (US)
M = size 6 - 8 (US)
L = size 8 - 10 (US)
Ingredients:
100% native seed cotton
We use natural off-white cotton that is grown by the village artisans using organic farming practices.
Native cotton seed can actually grow during a drought. Not to be confused with the water-thirsty GMO cotton seed invented 30 years ago that now makes up 99.4% of cotton production globally.
TIME REQUIRED TO MAKE EACH GARMENT:
Growing cotton: 4 months
Preparing cotton: 3 days
Hand-spinning: 5 days
Setting up loom: 1 weeks
Hand-weaving: 3 - 5 days
Finishing fabric: 3 days
Dyeing fabric: 2 - 14 days
Cutting fabric: 1 days
Sewing: 3 - 9 days
Washing: 2 days
TOTAL = 5 - 6 MONTHS
Seed-to-sewing in a 30-mile radius:
Hand-spun
Hand-woven
Hand-sewn
Hand-dyed
No chemicals
No fossil fuels
No electricity
No GMO
Artisans paid a living wage
Each piece was beaten with a wooden mallet to make the fabric extra soft and drapey. It will continue to get softer with each wash.
NATURAL WHITES:
Don't be afraid of wearing off-white. Since no chemicals were used, the fabric retains the natural oils of the cotton plant. Dirt and stains easily roll off when washed, just like a white poodle after a doggie bath.
1) Hand-wash cold, line dry, or
2) Machine-wash in mesh bag, line dry
DYED COLORS:
Natural dyes will fade and become more beautiful over time. It is similar to how dark blue jeans will lighten with each washing.
For a faded patina effect:
Hand-wash cold, line dry
To keep the original color:
Dry-clean only
IRONING:
Natural fibers will wrinkle. This shows that it is not blended with any synthetic fibers.
Our garments should be ironed using the highest setting (HOT) with steam.