A Patchwork of Cultures

My love of fabrics began as a young girl watching my mother sewing our clothes. I was taught to sew on her old Bernina and this memory still evokes the smell of linseed oil and the machinegun rat-a-tat of the mechanism. She ran her own business printing textiles and making children's clothes out of old fabrics and it is these three creative processes - sewing, printing and recycling that were the inspiration behind our packaging.

Origin of Photo

The Komebukuro Bag: Inspired design
The style and sentiment of our pouches goes back to the design of the Japanese Komebukuro bag, which incorporated a sewn patchwork of different fabrics that were traditionally used to carry rice offerings to the temple during important religious ceremonies, it was also used to hold a gift connected to a significant personal event for a close friend or relative.

Indonesian Batik: An Ancient Form of Printing
The ancient artform of wax resist dyeing which is used in batik dates back to the 4th century BC where it was used in Egypt to wrap mummies. It later spread to China and India in the 6th century before finding it's way to Indonesia.

The technique involves melted wax which is applied to cloth before being dipped in dye. Any area the wax has been applied, the dye will not penetrate. Sometimes several colours are used, with a series of dyeing, drying and waxing steps.

The traditional colours used in this process include indigo, dark brown, and white, which are suppose to represent the three major Hindu Gods (Brahmā, Visnu, and Śiva). This is related to the fact that natural dyes are most commonly available in indigo and brown. Certain patterns were used to indicate your social status, so traditionally, wider stripes or wavy lines would indicated that you were higher up in social standing. Consequently, during ceremonies, one could determine the royal lineage of a person by the cloth he or she was wearing.

 Origin of photo

Japanese Cotton: The Art of Recycling
The use of cotton textiles has a long history in Japan, dating back to at least the early 17th century. During the various trade embargoes in this period, industrious Japanese women  perfected several sewing techniques in order to give renewed life to previously unwanted cloths as cotton was scarce. They used material that was readily available like old cloth and rags, patchworking them together and using them to make warm clothing, futon covers and other common household items.

The resulting combination of these different design styles, materials, printing methods, cultures and stories has determined much of our brand ethos and had a particular appeal in the making of our packaging.

 Voyage Packaging

Image sources:
www.tokugawaantiques.com
http://mamifleur.canalblog.com
www.kimonoboy.com

Travel Journal - Tibet and the Fairy Monastery

Travelling west from Lanzhou, along  the course of the Great Yellow river’s drifting breadth, all thoughts of the relentlessness of the urban metropolis which we had just escaped from soon dissolved and we were left to enjoy the tranquil mountain meadows which were soon assimilated into lush, alpine forest. By now the rivers snaking presence was far below us as we passed through snow-fissured mountain terrain which rose majestically from the valley floor. We were ascending to an altitude of 3500 feet and the noticeable changes in the atmosphere coupled with the adjustments in the surrounding geology and genealogy of the local people made it apparent  that we had crossed into the Xizang region or what is more commonly known outside China as Tibet.

The very existence of Tibet is as much a philosophical idea as a geographical place and soon becomes intertwined in the mind with the myths and legends of the region.

For several hours we carried on along a poor road that zig-zagged upwards through tiny hamlets of mud-walled buildings standing on uneven ground until we finally arrived at Langmusi - a small village straddling the border of the Gansu and Sichuan provinces, high on the Tibetan plateau were our jeep was immediately surrounded by rosy-cheeked locals dressed in brightly decorated outfits many with braided hair woven with coloured thread.

A translation of Langmusi into English means ‘fairy monastery’ and it is named after an ancient legend that tells of a fairy, who was turned into stone on a nearby mountain.

On our approach to the monastery I saw what I first thought to be the discarded debris, however, it turned out to be a kaleidoscope of ‘prayer wind horses’ – tiny bits of coloured paper thrown into the wind by Tibetan Buddhists on the hope that their prayers will go to the heavens and be answered.

As we stood outside the deserted prayer hall a monk appeared and started to bang a large gong. Very slowly and in solemn procession, other monks started to appear - they were being called to prayer and started to assemble outside the front steps, when the last gong sounded they all rushed into the hall and sat down in silence. The hall was dimly lit and very cold and in the half-light the silence was disturbed by the head principle berating the other monks for not working hard enough which we were assured was all part of their religious practice.

We walked back down what could only be described as typical village street in this region - solid yet uninspiring buildings designed as a defence against the freezing winter winds flanked a dirt road and the cliche of tumbleweed blowing down the thoroughfare would not have been an out of place depiction.
We entered the only shop on the street where the aromatic smell of yak butter candles filled the air. I walked up to the dusty counter and examined the 6 items that were on display. As the rather excited woman who owned the shop spoke no English our guide had to negotiate my purchase of a traditional coral and silver ring.
Since the Tibetan custom is to wear earrings that would be considered too large and heavy by western standards we went next door to a workshop, where the woman’s husband was working a lathe. He picked up from a large collection of tools and implements a small file and started to shape the ear wire on a pair of earrings I had just bought - a final memento of this leg of the journey. 

Travel Journals - An Introduction

Having been fortunate enough to travel extensively in both a personal and professional capacity, my journals are now testimony to a journey fulfilled.

Originally intended as record of my experiences and observations for my young nephew who wanted to join me on my travels, these journals now serve as a wonderful narrative of times passed and memories gained.

An oasis of colour

One of the pleasures of working with gemstones is the vast range of colour combinations they can provide. Every stone reflects the culture, origins and geography in which it was found.

Two artists whose use of colour has inspired me in my designs are Mark Rothko and Francis Bacon. Both artists use colour to create beautiful, unusual and vibrant combinations that stir different emotions in you – Rothko's calm, soothing tones are matched by Bacon's kinetic energy.

Francis Bacon - Man and child 1963

Mark Rothko

These new bracelets from our summer collection are part of the inspiration.

Iro Dual Bracelet - Purple/Grey            Iro Dual Bracelet - Blue/Yellow

Bacon and Rothko's paintings remind me of the vibrancy and unexpectedness of the cities of Morocco, where a beautiful oasis’s of colour can be found behind almost every door and garden gate. 

For anyone who has been to Marrakesh, one of the most enchanting experiences is to be found in the gardens of the Jardin Majorelle. This setting provides a tranquil experience which offsets the restless energy of the city. One of the delights is that many of the buildings and ornaments of the garden are painted in a deep sea blue which is juxtaposed perfectly with the tropical vegetation of the garden. Once there, one's immediate thoughts are of the peaceful moment but with a thought to the future – in coming home and trying to recreate that moment in your small 2m sq garden!

Jardin Majorelle - Marakesh

"Love and Compassion" Thai Amulets

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive."
(Dalai Lama)

 This is a gorgeous photo of two Thai woman sharing each others amulets.

The Thai amulet originated as a Buddhist devotional amulet but now they are more commonly used as personal, power enhancing and protective amulets. They can represent many different Gods.

Amulet Charm Necklace - Silver

A very good Thai friend made me promise only to use these amulets on necklaces, where Buddha can sit close to your heart x

The Beginning...

Well here goes, my first entry!

Finally after many years of making jewellery for myself and friends & family (and the many friends of friends!) I decided to take the leap and start Voyage. And what a fantastic start we have had!

I have always had a passion for jewellery, and have been lucky to have extensively travelled with previous jobs as well as a lot of personal travel. You can't travel the world and not be inspired by the many amazing and beautiful cultures, each one expressing themselves differently through their jewellery.

Combining trinkets, amulets and charms from far flung places and incorporating them into wearable jewellery, each piece with its own story, is what makes our pieces truly unique.

But most important of all is to make our jewellery reasonably priced so it's affordable to everyone.

Louise