Fabric That Summons a Temple’s Atmosphere
By Gina Dostler
Exotic adventures lie in wait. A bedroom adorned by intricate batik patterned fabrics can become a temple to anyone who discovers the lovely fabrics imported by Sadaslife. With colors that saturate the eye with vitality, batik drew Carolen Sadler, of Laguna Beach, to discover Indonesian textiles and the culture that leaves its imprint on every yard. Her online start-up Sadaslife allows anyone with a taste for adventure to bring bedding that swirls and twirls in Javanese time into their home.
Q: How did you get involved with making bedding?
A: Visiting Bali four years ago on my 30th wedding anniversary, my husband and I took a trip to the neighboring island of Java to visit Borobudour, a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist Temple. And while on the island I saw the most amazing sight hanging side by side – reds, yellows, greens, blues with gorgeous traditional designs swirling, stacking and diving through these beautifully colored fabrics. It was eye candy and right then and there I fell in love with the deep history woven together in these colorful fabrics. Soon a brainstorm hatched and ideas began to trickle inside my head. Even when I got back home and fell back into daily life, those fabrics hung inside me and kept me thinking, can I find anyone to make it larger than the typical sarong size? Duvets? Pillows? I could feel the excitement building. I started researching, planning and dreaming. Finally one day I told my family I had to go back to Java to find someone to make this happen.
Q: And your first collection soon arrived?
A: Well, not exactly. It wasn’t that easy. In fact everyone said I was nuts and even I thought maybe I was a little nutty. The odds of finding someone in one trip that you can trust and do business with half-way across the continent, well those odds are pretty high. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack. But when you hold a passion so deeply, miracles are bound to happen. One day during the trip I walked into this place in the middle of nowhere and found a family whose traditional fabric making was so amazing and exactly what I needed, my dream soon started to become reality. Despite a flood in 2013 that destroyed the original order that was six months in the making, a volcanic eruption that delayed shipment on the second order, my very first collection arrived last summer, the Brucket (pronounced brew-kay).
Q: Tell me about the fabrics.
A: They are made from primissima cotton, a very finely woven light-weight fabric, 100% cotton. The fabric gives out such a tranquil vibe with its smooth and soft surface, a delight to touch and feel. The application of the color and design is called batik. It’s a labor intensive process of wax-resist dyeing applied by hand to whole cloth and in the case of my fabrics, using a copper stamp called a cap to make the patterns. The applied beeswax resists the color allowing the artist to dye each pattern separately by soaking the cloth in one color, removing the beeswax in boiling water and repeating with another color building the fabric into amazing patterns and colors. The cloth is just as beautiful on one side as it is on the other. Since it is handmade, each one is unique, taking on the gift of its artist.
Q: Do you make the designs?
A: The striking designs are traditional and reflect the influence of India, China, Arabia and Europe from the heart of historic trade routes that had linked East to West. The motifs are from stamps already made in a 6” x 6” square with a handle. The family I work with has collected over 300 of these stamps over the years. But for the fabric, I select the motif, colors, borders and coordinating patterns. I must admit, it is a cooperative venture since I want to keep the indigenous ethnic quality so need an Eastern eye to distinguish that from my Western one. But it’s important that I interpret the design so it fits into our cultural realm. It’s a meddling of both Eastern and Western backgrounds woven together.
Q: Your operation employs locals?
A: It’s a family trade where a close knit set of workers make these fabrics and all treat each other with respect and kindness. It’s very interesting visiting and watching their way of life. The Javanese have this sort of rhythm, a quiet yet intense pace that keeps the soul intact and allows this wonderful peaceful feeling to drench every square inch of the operation. Their way of life is so much more sensible than our Western culture seeped in its rat races and constant goal settings. The handmade quality bequeaths a natural and cultural value to these Javanese fabrics; and when I lie on my bed covered with their designs and colors, I feel there is something so basic and simple empowered in each thread. It makes me very happy I was able to pull this off and make it happen.
Q: Do you have another collection in the making?
A: Yes, I have a third collection in the pipeline called Angrrek that is primarily fuchsia with a floral background. My second collection is ready and I just finished photographing it for my website which will post very soon. It’s called Indo Flower. The fabric has a black background with floral vines running through it in reds, yellows and greens. My current collection available for purchase is Bruket, a classic screen, lattice type design that melds traditional warm brown and gold tones accented by the bold use of chartreuse. Sizes are king, queen and twin ranging from $275 – $375.
Q: Can you customize into special orders?
A: Yes. If a designer came to me and said I am looking for this type of pattern in these colors, I can definitely work with my factory. There are an infinite amount of motifs that can be created and I would gladly work with someone to make a custom piece.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Carolen Sadler
Sadaslife
www.sadaslife.com
