Description
Hand dyed, woven and sewn Ikat/Jaspe pattern Jackets.
These Jackets are each ‘One-Offs’, only available in the designated size.
See separate listing for L and XL Jackets.
The story of these Shirt/Jackets.
The garment is re-purposed from a Cortes, which is the garment worn by the Mayan people of Guatemala. A Cortes is an oblong piece of fabric worn by women and men. They are handwoven in a method known as Ikat or in Guatemala jaspe (pronounced “Has-Pay”) One Cortes can take up to one and a half months to create. Each region has its own traditional geometric motifs and patterns.
Jaspe is an extraordinarily complex method, starting with a single thread of undyed cotton, then knotting and dyeing (using natural plants and minerals of the land). The dyed thread, when untied will be sewn, making the colours in exactly the right place to create the pattern.
During our regular trips to Guatemala, we have often seen Cortes for sale at markets, and the patches and offcuts form part of the bags and hats that we buy. This year, I chose 12 Cortes in a lightweight cotton, and a further 32 in a heavier weight. Each Cortes is just big enough to make one long sleeve shirt. Our tailor Pedro re-purposed the heavier weight ones as the Shirt/Jacket with 2 deep side pockets: 10 in Medium size, 12 in Large and 10 in XL. Each one is unique and can never be exactly replicated.
M. Width 23″ (46″). Length 30″. Arm length top 24″ base 20″
L. Width 24″ (48″). Length 30″. Arm length top 25″ base 21″
XL. Width 26″(52″). Length 31″. Arm length top 26″ base 21″.
Washing: Either hand wash in warm water, or gentle machine wash with similar colours at 30 degrees.
