ARTISANAL BEAUTIES
Handcrafted pieces that are great for gifting
John Hardy
Bali’s time-honoured jewellery-making tradition and natural landscape have always been the design inspirations for John Hardy. Under the direction of its first female creative director Hollie Bonneville Barden, John Hardy jewellery intricately weaves heritage with a modern aesthetic. Since the brand launched in 1975, each piece is still made by hand in a slow and labour-intensive process.
Its meticulous craftsmanship can be seen at the John Hardy Ubud Workshop & Showroom. Within the verdant complex, built using sustainable local materials such as bamboo and thatch, is where you can meet the artisans and designers, enjoy lunch, and discover some timeless jewellery like a cuff in silver and 18k gold, or a chain amulet studded with tsavorites, from the Kapal Bambu Boutique.
Ubud Workshop Tour is by appointment only.
≠ Kapal Bambu Boutique opens:
Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm
Saturday & Sunday 9am to 4pm
≠ Banjar Baturning No.1, Mambal, Abiansemal, Badung Tel: +62 361 469888 e-mail: visit@johnhardy.com
Kim Soo
Since opening its doors in 2016, this shop-cum-cafe in Seminyak has cemented its reputation as Bali’s house of chic. Led by Kim and Georgia, a mother-daughter creative powerhouse, Kim Soo works with local artisans – from sculptors to basket weavers – to create exotic homeware for everyday use. Be it a black and white printed cushion or a brass bowl, each product adds a timeless je ne sais quoi to one’s living space.
Housed in a beautiful Dutch colonial style building, Kim Soo combines retail with a stylish cafe serving comforting nosh like French toast and lamingtons and specialty coffee brewed from a vintage La Marzocco machine. After you have enjoyed your latte and ricotta pancakes at the terrace, browse through the shop and let your eyes feast on a lineup of products showcasing a pleasing interplay of materials and textures.
Opens daily 8.30am to 5.30pm
≠ Jalan Kayu Aya No.21, Seminyak, Kerobokan Kelod
Tel: +62 822 4713 0122 kimsoo.com
Threads of Life
There is a detailed provenance and story behind each woven and naturally dyed indigenous textile from the Threads of Life’s gallery in Ubud. Founded in 1998, Threads of Life works directly with 1,000 weavers, 80 communities, 12 islands, and uses 250 varieties of dye plants in Indonesia. It aims to preserve heirloom-quality textiles while giving the artisan weavers economic opportunities.
A captivating indigo dyed sarong from East Sumba gracefully hangs next to an intricately woven man’s ceremonial hip cloth from West Timor in the gallery. There is also a wide range of scarves, decorative pillows and woven baskets to decorate your pad. Due to the seasonal nature of plant dye harvesting and usage, the production cycle for each textile takes around 12 to 18 months. The laborious process has always been a challenge for the weavers, especially in an era where synthetic dyes are highly accessible.
Those who are curious to learn more about textile making can take a three-hour natural dye batik class or join an intensive farm-to-fabric indigo workshop led by an experienced Threads of Life’s researcher.
Opens daily from 10am to 7pm
≠ Jalan Kajeng No. 24, Ubud
Tel +62 361 972112 threadsoflife.com
Craft District
If you have an abiding fascination with wood and are looking for a statement piece, a trip to Craft District will be worth your while. Designer Mary Verspoor derives her inspiration from Indonesian craftsmanship and high quality wood. The spacious showroom displays gems like reclaimed teak wood, sculptures, handmade furniture, architectural garden objects, and tabletop pieces. Highlights include a wooden lotus leaf bowl that mimics the actual leaf in astonishing detail and a hand-carved teak wood stool.
By appointment only.
≠ Jalan Gunung Salak Utara No.80, Kerobokan Tel: +62 361 9067325 craftdistrictbali.com