Kalabandar's Jan Becker and Jeffrey Hess (Photo by Caitlin Durlak)
With fans of every age and in every social sphere, the scarf is one trend that shows no sign of wavering. Some of the most beautiful we’ve seen are from Toronto’s Jan Becker and Jeffrey Hess, who will host their semi-private sale at their home this week.
The married couple, who met in a textile shop in Jaipur, sell hand-woven silk, cotton and wool scarves, shawls and stoles found on an annual four-month pilgrimage to Thailand, India and Laos. The artistic duo—she’s a photographer; he’s a historian who has curated an exhibit on antique textiles—commission the pieces directly from worker-owned weaving co-ops.
This silk scarf is $49 (Photo by Caitlin Durlak)
The couple sell textiles under the name Kalabandar at Blue Banana in Kensington Market, but their finest designs are available only at their Victorian home, near Queen and Spadina. A silk scarf from Laos, intricately patterned with taupe and black triangles, takes six weeks to weave and costs $249. Most, however, are between $50 and $130, and one of our favourites, a brightly hued wool scarf made in India, is $44.
Shopping in the couple’s front room is an intimate affair. Racks of scarves hang near fireplaces, and piano music plays softly as customers who have just met vote on which piece looks best on each other. Hess and Becker will explain the origin of each and may include a lesson on how a jacquard loom works. “Customers walk away with a sense of the history of the piece,” Hess says. “It makes it much more personal.”
For an invitation to Kalabandar’s home sale, which runs Thursday, November 12, to Monday, November 16, e-mail tribalfibers@yahoo.com or call 416-979-2206.
I would love to see and try your scarfs on.I love the grey one on your web site.:)
November 11, 2009 at 10:07 am | by Lilly NataleNice scarves.
What do you think about these:
biokat Scarves 09/10
http://www.biokatonline.com
The Snowboard Scarf
The Snowboard Scarf has been evolving for three seasons now and it has hit perfection. This is your new best friend while you are out in the park, on the mountain, or zipping through the city on your bike or motorcycle. The high quality fleece rests against your face and the rubberized middle layer protects you from the elements.
ADJUSTABLE: Snaps at the back and allots for 3 fits
WINDPROOF & WATERPROOF: The middle layer is rubberized
SOFT: Your nose and chin sit against soft, high-quality fleece
AVAILABLE IN:
Neons-80’s-Nylon
Black & Grey-Houndstooth-Wool
Red&Grey-Plaid-Wool
Pastels-Houndstooth-Wool
White & Black-Lumberjack-Wool
Red & Black-Lumberjack-Wool
Greens-Snakeskin-Nylon
Black&White-Splatter-Silk Feel
The City Scarf
The biokat city scarf is an intuitively wrapping, unisex wool scarf with mega sized snaps to hold it in place. This scarf has sold out each season. The lining sits comfortably against your neck and chin, while it holds shape beautifully.
CONSTRUCTION: Wool outer, cotton/polyester blend lining
AVAILABLE:
Red & Grey-Plaid-Wool
Black & Grey-Houndstooth-Wool
Red&Grey-Plaid-Wool
Pastels-Houndstooth-Wool
White & Black-Lumberjack-Wool
Red & Black-Lumberjack-Wool
The Luxury City Scarf
Each of these luxury scarves has been individually cut and delicately constructed using wool or wool/cashmere blend from the Ermenegildo Zegna Group, Italy’s biggest name in luxury fabrics. Dolce and Dolce and Gabbana buy fabric from the same name. The inside layer is of kasha lining, which is used on high quality winter outerwear. These scares are 2-3 of-a-kind and will not re-produced with the fabrics shown again.
AVAILABLE:
Black & White Houndstooth, Plaid Black Lining
November 17, 2009 at 1:54 pm | by MichaelBlack & White Houndstooth, Black Lining
Black with micro Aubergine accent, Black Lining
Black & Chocolate Houndstooth, Black Lining
Black with Pinstripe, Black Lining
Clay Blue with Gold Accent, Charcoal Blue Lining
Brown/Black with micro
Baby Blue accent, Charcoal Blue Lining
Gold/baby Blue with Milk Chocolate, Damask Print, Charcoal Blue Lining
Milk chocolate with micro Baby Blue/Gold accent, Charcoal Blue Lining
Charcoal Grey with micro Gold/Aubergine accent Charcoal Blue Lining
Emerald Blue with Black and Chocolate accents Dark Chocolate Lining
Brown/Black with micro Baby Blue/Cherry accents, Dark Chocolate Lining
Off White with Browns, Oranges and Blues, Dark Chocolate Lining