I want to tell you about a special place that sits just on the equator line.
A place known as the world’s largest archipelago. It is made up of over 18,000 islands, 6,000 of which are inhabited. Within those 6,000 inhabited islands, there are 1,340 recognised ethnic groups; each with their own language, beliefs and cultural practices - from the shores of Aceh to the jungles of Papua - this is diversity, and it sits at the heart of my beautiful country, Indonesia.
Now imagine this diversity translated into art, one that has graced and adorned its people for centuries. Hundreds of thousands of designs, incorporating symbols that represent the ethnicity, customs, religions, and tales of everyday lives of the people of Indonesia. A feast for the eyes and highly valuable. Indonesian textiles are prized items of inheritance, prestige and have been traded across oceans for centuries. From batik to songket, from ikat to gringsing, these kain (textiles) are displayed or exchanged during rites of passage, celebrations and tribal rituals.
One of the most powerful things about Indonesian textiles is the story woven through its threads.
I created Pedasss Atelier with the hope to share this sentiment and history of Indonesian textiles with you all. When you order our garments, you will become part of the effort to keep these ancient practices alive and you'll also learn the story and philosophy behind the items in our collection.
You see, textiles are a part of Indonesia’s diverse cultural heritage and cannot be separated from its history. With the modernisation of our world, people are increasingly becoming less interested in continuing this ancestral art, and it is our mission to be part of the movement that keeps it alive. By exploring the stories behind them, you will learn and understand the values that make up the complex identity of Indonesia and what it means to be Indonesian.