handmade and charming
pop art meets ancient culture peacocks and paisleys
F/W 2012
W
e are excited to debut Peacocks + Paisleys, our first-ever collection. We play with pop art and vintage silhouettes to highlight two of the most common
and markedly Indian symbols used in traditional crafts.
there once was a girl who loved frocks she dreamed pop art and peacocks then she found love twas nothing to shrug our dress turns all heads when she walks
The peacock is the national bird of India, representing elegance and grace. We turn the notion of ‘peacocking,’ on its head--with Symbology, each piece allows women to stand out in the crowd and make her story heard.
And our beloved ‘pickled pear,’ the ever chic paisley. The paisley motif originated in Kashmir in India--that’s right, where cashmere comes from. It served as an ancient fertility symbol in Mesopotamia and has developed to represent the shape of a mango in India. We can’t help but smile when we see the quirky yet always chic paisley.
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PEACO CK S
+ PAI S LE YS \\ 4
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PEACOCK PUNCH Party Dress hand printed cotton $150 // 2 , 4, 6
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KIMONO GIRL WRAP blouse w/ reversible obi belt hand printed silk $120 // 2 , 4, 6
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S
About Us ymbology is a game changing fashion label that makes fair trade sexy. We fuse the beauty of handmade artisan textiles with trend-forward design to create apparel with an authen-
tic global connection.
Symbology is a pioneer in the fashion industry, forging an authentic connection between artisan producers and customers on a broad scale. With each Symbology purchase, our customer has invested in a style-forward, one-of-a-kind piece that empowers women across the globe. At Symbology, women can truly have the best of both worlds.
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Pops of Peacocks Shift DRESS hand printed silk $160 // 2, 4, 6
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Pretty in Paisley Blouse Hand printed silk $90 // 2 , 4, 6
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Philosophy
S
ymbology uses fashion as a platform to empower women, revitalize traditional arts and promote sustainable development around the world. Our goal is
to alleviate the effects of poverty and improve the livelihoods of artisan producers and their families in developing countries. Artisan enterprises have great potential for spurring economic growth and often provide a vital income source for families in the poorest segments of society.
There are 1.3 billion people living on less than $1 a day, 70% of whom are women. Numerous studies show that, when given the opportunity to make money, women invest in their chil-
The river that flows in you also flows in me
dren’s education and health, as well as the overall community.
- Kabir, weaver poet
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Driving Miss Paisley WRAP DRESS hand printed cotton $170 // 2, 4, 6
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PEEK A BOO PAISLEY Peek-a-Boo Paisley $78 // 2 - 6 Cocktail Dress
hand woven silk brocade $250 // 2, 4, 6
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THE BIRDS PENCIL SKIRT HAND PRINTED COTTON $120 // 2,PEACOCKS 4, 6 THINKIN $78 // 2 - 6
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The Birds PENCIL SKIRT Hand printed cotton $120 // 2, 4, 6
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My Flair Lady Peplum Blazer w/ printed lining HAND Woven wool $220 // 2,4, 6
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PEACOCK PUNCH
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True art is evidence of happiness,
contentment and purity of its authors.
-Mahatma Gandhi artisan washing fabric
woman block printing cotton jaipur, rajasthan
Many Thanks Hair + Makeup, courtesy of Aveda Institute Chapel Hill: Matt Vrchota, Alli Carter, Nadjia Hanusic Models: Kate Halldorson, Nora Chang, Lindsey Franco, Evanne Allen Photography: Lola Bajomo Layout and Design: Blair Warren, Jillian Ohl Indian artisan groups: Bagru Textiles (Rajasthan), Kilmora Fabrics (Uttarakhand), Varanasi Weavers (Uttar Pradesh) Poems: Marissa Heyl Special thanks to Dana McMahan, Jade Bettin, Kate Halldorson, Evanne Alen, Carrie Smith, Rachel Archambeau, Gina Wheeling, Paige Shull, Alana Austin and UNC’s Women in Entrepreneurship for support \\ 28
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