OUR STORY

The story begins with blocks.

Hand-carved wooden blocks with designs of tropical flowers and coconut palms, creepers of jasmine and rose, birds such as parrots and peacocks, animals such as monkeys and tigers, all came together in the creation of the elaborate textiles of the Deccan Plateau in Southern India. Commissioned by the Rajas and Nawabs, these hand-printed and hand-painted textiles came to be known as Chintz and Paisley.

Indian Textiles are known to be some of the oldest in the world and date back to 2500 BC. The color intensity of the natural dyes, and the high quality of the fabrics were renowned.  Travelers and merchants that came to India carried back tales of spices, exquisite silks and cottons to Europe and the Far East. These early explorers were instrumental in creating a trade for Indian textiles in the early 17th century.

Textiles in India are intrinsically interwoven into the lives of people, and often depicted stories of the heroes and gods. As they achieved economic importance, they were used as a commodity and traded for other goods.

Alamwar’s archives of blocks, hand carved out of wood speak of this very period and record the textile history of the Deccan region. Our design vocabulary is an amalgam of cross-cultural trade and is visible in our stylized prints and designs. Alamwar Home and Fashion Collections are created using hand-crafted textiles of fine linen, silk, and cotton.

We continue to honor and support weavers, embroiderers, dyers and painters of cloth, artisans who have honed and perfected their skill through generations. Their intricate handwork, dedication and passion is reflected in our collections.

Our use of natural, botanical-dyes and azo-free dyes ensures a low environmental impact. Sustainability, empowerment, and ethical production have always been our priorities. We believe in the merits of “small batch” production and honor the principles involved in creating Slow Textiles.

For over 20 years we continue to offer our collections of finished soft goods such as decorative pillows, throws and quilts. Our fabrics are sought after by discriminating interior design houses.  Our recently launched, Resort Boho-Chic Vibe collection is in boutiques all over the US and in the Caribbean.