“Seek the strongest colour effect possible … the content is of no importance”

Henry Matisse

Robe, Central Asia, Bukhara 1870-1880

For many centuries the Silk Road was a great highway for the export of luxury goods from China to Europe. Silk, fabrics, porcelain, furs, spices, gems, carpets and other exotic goods of Asia moved along this “road” to the West. In the 19th century the Ikat fabrics from Central Asia became very popular among the traders on the Silk Road. Samarkand and Bukhara became the centres of the finest Ikat fabric production called the Han Atlas, which is a 100% percent natural hand-woven and hand-dyed fabric. Its pattern and design was an indication of luxury, power and high social status. Han-Atlas fabric is woven out of silk into a combination of bright colours, such as red, yellow and green. Traders brought Ikat fabrics to the West where they have had a unique influence on the design world ever since. Continue reading →