Reversible Block Print Donza | natural indigo

An intentionally easy and relaxed jacket that balances effortless style with rustic charm. Its slouchy silhouette, clean lines and impeccable craftsmanship lend a quiet sophistication, while hand woven block print and a contrasting madras check lining celebrate India's rich textile traditions.

 

• Fully reversible
• Cut to the pattern of a traditional Japanese donza fisherman jacket; silhouette akin to a bomber jacket
• One size with relaxed silhouette
• Closes on both sides with hand-beaten brass buttons
• Wide-cut body with kimono collar
• Full-length, cone-shaped sleeves
• Welt pockets on one side
• Crafted from handspun and woven mid-weight cotton, resist-hand block printed on an organic indigo base. The reverse is a natural indigo & tea-dye madras check.
• All orders come lovingly packed in upcycled silk bags

• One size: fits S-XL comfortably
  • Length center front 28”
  • Chest & hip 70” round
  • Cross-shoulder 33”
  • Armhole 18” round
  • Sleeve length 24”

+/- a tolerance inherent to hand made clothing

• Fabric: 100% cotton
• Handfeel: Soft & mid weight
• Care: Gentle hand wash separately in cold water. Do not soak. Gentle steam iron. Drip dry flat in the shade. 
• Origin: West Bengal, India

 

 

Textile Story

 

This hand spun & woven cotton is entirely hand made. Once the cotton bolls have been gathered, they are carded to clean them of any debris. This is done using a manual or semi-mechanised machine that combs the fibre. It's a time-consuming task as the fibres are carded many times to ensure all the waste left from the cotton seeds is taken out.

 

The cleaned fibre is then spun into yarn on a charkha (spinning wheel) or spindle. The spinning thins out the fibres into a more standard thickness and gives length to the yarn while twisting it to give it strength. This yarn is measured and then prepared for the loom, itself a lengthy process, where it is hand woven to create the cloth.

 

Not only is cloth made this way environmentally friendly, it also maintains the intrinsic properties of cotton which are usually damaged during machine-processing. Its weave creates air pockets which make it cool in summer and warm in winter and its inherent strength makes it highly durable. The semi-slubbed texture adds authenticity, a richness and variety to the cloth that is not found in machine-processed fabric. 

 

Any variations or irregularities are to be celebrated. They are part of the design & inherent to the handcrafted production process, making this item beautifully unique.