Based on their love of the finer things in life and for collecting beautiful things from all over the world, GYPSET team, Silvia and Nina (creative director of Vienna based label www.envieheartwork.com), have created a new collection. Drawing inspiration from India, Morocco, Turkey and the Mediterranean as well as the bon vivant mentality of the late 60s and 70s European jet-set, both designers stand for bohemian style, high fashion, unique art and finally the combination of GYPSI and JET-SET = GYPSET.
Inspired from wanderlust and exotic clans they this time traveled to Thailand to source one of a kind original hill tribe fabrics from the northern part of the country.
Thailand as an inspiration source stands above all for a friendly and fun-loving, exotic and tropical, cultured and historic country, which beams with a lustrous hue from its gaudy temples and golden beaches to the ever-comforting Thai smile. The journey brought us first to Bangkok (please contact fantastic Sandra from her Take – Off travel agency for best flight tickets), a megalopolis of food, shopping, fun, temples, palaces and endless opportunities for urban exploration. To escape from the hustle and bustle of the city for a few days and above all to relax and soak up some sun Ko Samet was calling. An island idyll, Ko Samet bobs in the sea with small sandy coves bathed by clear aquamarine water. You will have to share this prettiness with other beach lovers though as it’s an easy weekend escape from Bangkok as well as a major package-tour destination. This is why we decided to leave and head up north and to dive into the culture and beauty of the hill tribes, where we fell in love: Chiang Mai. Thailand’s second city is not Bangkok, thank God, because this nonchalant place encapsulates much of what is unique and breathtaking about the country. Chiang Mai is laid-back, creative and reverential. It’s a city with heart and is yet dynamic and modern without having lost its down-to-earth charm. There is certainly traffic and pollution and weird ugly concrete buildings, but this is a very Thai place – Thai culture overwhelmingly pervades the city wrapped up in Western sensibilities (don’t miss amongst others the food street stands and a proper Pad Thai as well as a traditional Thai massage).
Speaking about Thai culture: ethnic minorities in the mountainous regions of northern Thailand (thus making Chiang Mai the epicenter of hill tribe fabrics) are called hill tribes, each having its own language, customs, mode of dress and spiritual beliefs. Traditionally, many tribal people supported their families by engaging in agriculture, which involved a migratory lifestyle in the constant search for fertile land. As the population increased, this caused increased strain on the land, leading the Thai government to implement strict land use regulations. So the tribal peoples’ semi-nomadic way of life is now no longer viable.
By producing environmentally responsible handcrafted products, hill tribes are able to revive their tribal traditions while increasing their household income and living in a way that is more sustainable.
With our new collection consisting mainly of hmong (one of the biggest tribes) fabrics known for exquisite needlework we call attention to this ancient ethnic groups and want to support and improve the life of tribal people and thus provide development opportunities to increase their standard of living.
So, get ready to wrap in our latest Cashmere Cape refined with original hill tribe borders from Chiang Mai. Together with other highlights available on http://www.silviagattin.com and http://www.envieheartwork.com now!
silvia gattin's behind the scenes blog 