The Art of Kerawang Embroidery: A Beautiful Heritage Craft
The Art of Kerawang Embroidery: A Beautiful Heritage Craft
The art ofkerawang embroidery is one of intricacy, beauty, attention to detail, and tradition. Its origins go back to the 16th century when it was used in traditional clothing for nobility and aristocracy. The art form fosters a sense of community, as knowledge and skills are passed down through generations to preserve this beautifully skilled craft. Its intricate and exquisite design and openwork give the appearance of lace.
Unlike machine-made embroidery, the kerawang embroidery technique is handmade from the very beginning and involves multiple steps and patience to achieve a beautiful finished product. Firstly we work with our artisans in Bali to develop the artwork for the embroidery design. Options are all hand drawn onto the garment’s pattern pieces to show the exact placement and look. Once the artwork is approved, a screen print of the design is made and then transferred to the fabric using disappearing/ washable ink. This gives the artisans a guide to use when stitching. Now that the stitching is ready to begin, the printed fabric is set into a frame so that the fabric is taut. The artisans then carefully start from one end of the design, moving the framed fabric around on the machine, following the outline, and creating intricate details. The stitching process is done with a great amount of attention to detail, patience, and the use of different stitching techniques to create the pattern. The use of different stitching techniques gives the embroidery look depth and texture, unlike machine-made embroidery. Our Balinese team of women artisans carefully guides the needle and handcrafts the embroidery which includes pausing to hand cut the openwork and create this lace-like pattern.
This unique and complex handmade process is a true labor of love and collaboration during each stage of the process. We are honored to work with amazing artisans who value this heritage technique and handcraft our pieces with love and pride.
