Kashgar

An Australian owned business, Linda and Ian travel to exotic lands and small village communities all over the world in search of authentic handcrafted products. Their mission is to support, honour and maintain age-old traditions, ethical and sustainable crafts and methods.

Linda and Ian immerse themselves in cultures all over the world, and hand pick only that which is unusual, handmade, beautiful, ethical and sustainable. Increasing awareness of these products in the west has the flow-on effect of increasing demand, value, and ultimately their chance of survival. Time-honoured means of craftsmanship that are passed from generation to generation all over the world are rapidly disappearing in favour of goods like mass produced jeans and T-shirts, chemical dyes and compounds.

Kashgar is more than appreciating the unique beauty of handicrafts, jewellery and furniture. By supporting traditional methods of design and production we encourage local cottage artisans and help ethnic minorities maintain their self-sufficiency, while reducing the impact on the environment. It's about preserving tradition and methods that if lost now, will be lost forever.

‘By purchasing our products you are actively supporting global artisans and the preservation of age-old crafts and traditions.’

"THIS BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN BY PHOTOGRAPHER STEVEN CHEE FOR AUSTRALIAN FASHION WEEK IN 2009, IN COLLABORATION WITH ABSOLUT VODKA.  OUR AFGHAN "WAISTCOAT", BASICALLY A VERY SIMPLE MIRROR-WORK EMBROIDERED DOUBLE BAND WITH COIN DECORATION AND METAL TASSELED ENDS, WAS USED TO CLOTHE THE UPPER BODY OF THE MODEL AND STRATEGICALLY HIDE HER NIPPLES.  WAISTCOATS AND BELTS LIKE THESE ARE WORN BY KUTCHEE WOMEN ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, ADDING FURTHER EMBELLISHMENT TO OFTEN HIGHLY DECORATED CLOTHING.  COINS ARE A SYMBOL OF WEALTH AND STATUS, WHILE SMALL MIRRORS ARE TYPICALLY WORN TO REFLECT LIGHT AND FRIGHTEN OFF EVIL SPIRITS." 
- LINDA HEAPHY

"IF THESE CUFFS LOOK FAMILIAR, IT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN A VERY SIMILAR PAIR ON THE ARMS OF LUKE SKYWALKER'S AUNT BERU IN THE TATOOINE SCENES IN THE ORIGINAL STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE. THEY ARE ACTUALLY A PAIR OF BRONZE CUFFS, CALLED THADO KUKI, MADE AND WORN BY THE KONYAK NAGAS OF NAGALAND IN FAR NORTHEAST INDIA.  CHARACTERISED BY THEIR REGULARLY SPACED PROJECTING POINTS AND CREATED BY THE LOST WAX METHOD OF CASTING, ORNAMENTS LIKE THESE DENOTED HIGH HEAD TAKING STATUS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, AND SINCE HEAD HUNTING IS NOW OUTLAWED, THEY ARE NO LONGER MADE AND ARE THEREFORE REGARDED AS VALUABLE ANCESTRAL OBJECTS."- LINDA HEAPHY