Covid-19, interior decoration and sustainability of Uzbek ikat fabrics
Those of us who live in cities and spent months in quarantine this year have changed during this pandemic. I am one of those people. Home has become an epicenter of everything. If before we considered going out or entertaining at home, now there is very limited going out and very limited guests.
This being said – home is no longer so much about guest rooms and fancy furniture and decor to impress other people. Home is starting to serve its true purpose – being a comfortable living space to support our mental and physical health.
Interior design trends which were slowly but surely moving towards minimalism have taken a giant step towards simplifying and minimizing our life styles but this time with a twist. This time we are heading towards minimalism which is warm and cozy.
A bit of history
Interestingly, a similar dynamic was observed a century ago after a Spanish flu pandemic. People concerned about cleanliness and keeping their spaces free of germs realized the burden of maintaining a luxurious lifestyle filled with Victorian wallpapers, heavy curtains and ornate furniture. Covid-19 pandemic is taking us in the same direction.
“The trauma of the pandemic has left us craving warmth and comfort, so we are combining open, empty spaces with cozy textiles.”
Elizabeth Segran, PhD | Fastcompany
What changed with the pandemic in interior design and decoration
- Space is the greatest luxury, especially for urban residents.
- Furniture designs are becoming simpler and more functional. This is how we are making our homes look more spacious.
- Surfaces must be easy to clean.
- We are craving natural materials like cotton, wool, wood, anything that can bring nature indoors.
- Design thinking which was headed towards sustainability is now full force focused on sustainable design because we have seen with our own eyes how careless we have been with our planet. Here is a an article by Bill Gates which makes the pandemic sound like a walk in a park compared to a climate change if we don’t take any actions.
Speaking of sustainability and sustainable ikat fabrics…
Did you know that:
- all Uzbek ikat fabrics and ikat pillow covers sold by UzbekAlive are made in Uzbekistan of local silk and cotton?
- Uzbek ikat fabrics are handwoven on wooden hand looms? That is close to zero use of electricity or gas in the production process
- ikat fabrics are made in limited quantities because hand work can not be mass produced? How refreshing is it to hear that we don’t have huge factories of workers slaving 24/7 to make our ikat fabrics? In fact, Uzbek ikat fabrics are handwoven at home by women. Those women who between weaving raise their children, cook and do what all women lovingly do on this planet.
Does this qualify Uzbek ikat fabrics as sustainable ikat fabrics? We believe it does! If you agree or disagree, we would love to hear from you.
Finally, speaking of coziness that we all crave these day. There are several things we can offer: ikat bedspteads which are made of cotton/silk ikat fabrics and ikat pillow covers (also made of cotton/silk blends). For DIY projects we have our sustainable Uzbek ikat fabrics which are all handwoven of silk and cotton.
Should you have any questions, please comment below or send us a message. We will be happy to hear from you.
