East-West Handbag in Ikat Silk

These absolutely gorgeous shoulder bags were made with an ikat silk from my lovely friend, Miss L. In the 1990s she traveled across far eastern Europe and north Asia helping people in small villages establish health care infrastructures, after political turmoil had left the previous systems in ruins. She would lobby health care and pharmaceutical companies for supplies and money to charter a flight, then take a plane load of materials to a place that needed help. She’d stay long enough to see their basic services up and running, and come back to the US to start the process all over again. Many of the people she helped wanted to give her tokens of thanks, and these often came as textiles. The beautiful ikat silk used for these East-West handbags was one of those gifts.

Ikat silk is characterized by slightly blurred patterns, a soft sheen, and visible nubs where threads are tied together to create the patterns. Miss L. thinks this piece came from Uzbekistan. The vibrant red, pink, yellow, and green colors are deeply saturated and gorgeous. I’ve paired it with a red faux leather for the trim, handles, and base, and lined the bag in coordinating red waterproof canvas.

The bag closes with an extended zipper that allows access to the full width of the bag. Inside, there are two slip pockets, three card slots, and a zipper pocket. This is obviously not a large bag but it is surprisingly roomy. My chunky wallet, big keychain, lip balm, and a small brush fit easily – and wouldn’t it be nice to tell your people sorry, I actually can’t carry your stuff today?

Silk is a very strong fiber, but as this is a handwoven piece it susceptible to threads being pulled if you happened to scratch or catch one. There are also the occasional small nubs in the fabric where threads are tied. These are characteristic of ikat silk and are not a defect. Treat it with just a little bit of extra care, like you might a beaded or embroidered bag, and you should have no issues.

Approximate measurements: 13.5″ wide at the top x 6″ tall x 4.5″ deep

Brush away loose dirt or dust. Spot clean the silk fabric by gently dabbing (don’t scrub) with a tiny bit of very well-diluted soap and water or white vinegar and water. Oily stains can be covered with cornstarch or talc overnight, then gently dabbed with a clean cloth. Thoroughly blot any water or liquid marks to prevent the formation of rings. The bag should not go in the washer or dryer, should not be ironed, and should not be submerged in water. As the interior fabrics are waterproof, small spills quickly wiped away should create no problems. Marks inside can be wiped with a damp cloth.

The listing is for the bag only; any other items in the photos are to illustrate scale and use and are not included. Like everything I sell, the bag was made by me in my smoke-free, dog-friendly home. All sales are final; please review all of the photos before purchase. Questions? Please reach out!