Last night, during our weekly Skype date, Krista and I ranted about the absurd prices some on-line sellers charge for ethnic clothing so I was thrilled to find a vintage Rabari tribal skirt hanging on the sale rail in Banardos when I popped into town this morning.
Hand-woven by the tribeswomen of Gujarat, the skirt features traditional folk art inset with tiny mirrors on a deliciously soft cotton back cloth.
Colourful, cheap and a bit tatty around the edges it fits in with the rest of my wardrobe seamlessly.
Colourful, cheap and a bit tatty around the edges it fits in with the rest of my wardrobe seamlessly.
The original over-landers travelled light, dressing in clothes they'd picked up cheaply in local bazaars and markets once they'd reached their destination. On their return they fuelled a craze for the Indian block prints, tribal jewellery, woven leather sandals and maxi skirts which dominated the early 1970s.
I love reading about the intrepids, the original overland travellers who put Goa well and truly on the hippy trail. Much as I love it now what a place it must have been back then.
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I used to do similar to those hippy travellers, taking only a bikini, a few books, sunscreen and the clothes I stood up in to India. Its wonderfully liberating to buy everything on arrival, from toothpaste and ayurvedic soap to leather chappals and recycled sari dresses but you do risk looking identical to every other Western visitor so these days I pack my usual vintage gear & buy a few bits and pieces when I fancy a change.
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These 1970s images of Anjuna thrill me. The infamous hippy flea market is still going strong.
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Whenever I Google 1970s Goa hippies I find pictures of me. The cheek! I didn't even get there till the late '90s.
Loving Rory Maclean's "Magic Bus".
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Just like the clothing, Indian tribal jewellery commands a feckin' fortune on the internet.
The choice is yours, click a button and input your credit card details or, for almost the same price, jump on a flight and go find 'em yourself. They'll be a lot more special if you can recall the sweat trickling down your back and the hustle and bustle of the marketplace while you haggled your hardest.
This skirt will be eventually returning to its homeland as part of my luggage on our next trip. What a well-travelled garment it will be, bought in India, brought to the UK and back home again - if only vintage clothes could talk.
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| Vintage Rabari tribal skirt (£1.99, Banardos) worn with 1970s Chelsea Girl halter neck vest (50p rail, Cancer UK), Rajasthani embroidered leather bag (flea market, India), 1970s block printed bed cover (from a jumble sale). |
I'm having a quiet night in, Jon's off to an old band reunion and I'm going to indulge in a spot of gin-fuelled sewing accompanied by the footie.
See you soon.
Such a beatiful skirt !
ReplyDeleteIts sad that evetything thats get "discovered " on the internet get so bloody expensive !
Here in Sweden the prices at every local fleamarket are rising for every time you visit and i do blame the internet eventhough its a great thing ....
xxx
You look like you are sitting on a magic carpet ready to whisk you away! Fab post, loving those anklets xx
ReplyDeleteYou look stunning loving the maxi so bright and happy looking. Love the necklace too. I really appreciate my Indian cuff the other half brought back for me on one of his travels for work. It means more because he knew I would love it.
ReplyDeleteHope you have fun with the gin sewing things could get interesting. Ha ha hoping Germany win In the final match on Sunday I stand to gain a few quid on it from the family sweepstakes.
P x
your exotic beauty is the perfect canvas for these beautiful clothes, I was a teen in the 70's, even though we wee in the Northern part of Canada the hippy movement was alive and well, i only wish I had kept my wardrobe from back then, it was so much like a lot of what you were, I would have sent it to you, alas,,,, my backside is a bit too wide for the clothes now, lol, I weigh 25 pound more than back then, lol but I know you would have enjoyed them, ,, wow, there wee some crusty looking hippies in some of the photos, topless and all!!! lol,
ReplyDeleteI think I recognized a couple of them, lol I really enjoyed your post, enjoy than gin fueled sewing spree, I can't wait to see what comes from it!
What a gorgeous skirt! I love Indian textiles passionately but they are not easily come by unless I want to spend a fortune online, which I don't.
ReplyDeleteYour reading spot looks very inviting and I love your necklace. I can't wear that style without feeling like I am being strangled but I like hanging them around my bedroom and also admiring them on you.
xoxox
Oh I remember those clothes so well. I was a backpacking hippie in the seventies. Stayed in hostels, slept on the beach in Greece, lived for months with just a knapsack's worth of clothes, most of them made in India. You're making me so nostalgic. Yeah, it just annoys me to. No end when I see the prices of hippie chic style clothing. And the fact that it is now just a mere style. In the 70's this style was a Philosophy! Now you've got me going! I AM a daft bat!
ReplyDeleteHurrah for Barnardo's. Bloody brilliant find, absolutely gorgeous and obviously it was meant for you. Loving the stunning leather bag too. Good luck with the sewing, I've been doing some today too...'the skirt' may be making an appearance sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.xxxxxx
I'm in total lust with your necklace! Looking fabulous as ever mrs! x
ReplyDeleteNiiiiice skirt!!!! Jolly good find!!! X
ReplyDeleteAh Vix, what a lovely post, full of nostalgia for a time gone by, great photos, and a real love of India and all it has to offer. You would have fitted right in with those early-70s hippies, wouldn't you? Though you are possibly rather more down-to-earth, I'd say!
ReplyDeleteThe skirt is a beauty, a wonderful find, as is the bedspread. And oh my goodness, I had a rush of nostalgia myself at the sight of that Chelsea Girl halter top - I remember "borrowing" my older sister's very similar one for a school disco! Without her permission, of course... That zigzag woven pattern reminds me so much of the mid-70s.
You look like a chilled and relaxed hippy goddess - which is about right, I reckon! Enjoy your gin, the sewing and the football. I have a bottle of Bombay Sapphire here, I might just join you! xxxxxx
Loving the Chelsea Girl love - and the f-nic skirt and most of all the necklace YUM! You look fabulous as ever darling girl, raising a glass of Aldi's finest (and organic, natch) Gin and tonic to you xxxx
ReplyDeleteHow I would have loved to have been there in the 70s ...
ReplyDeleteLove your skirt and necklet.
M x
Nothing like Indian tribal jewellery!!! You have some enviable pieces!!! <3
ReplyDeletewonderful beautiful skirt!!!!
ReplyDeletegreat find! you put together a fab outfit with the missoni inspired top and fab tribal jewels....
the old pics are very interesting.
xxxx
Beautiful skirt and very interesting post. Oh the good old 70s, my teenage years!
ReplyDeleteI love those little mirrors on clothes. I used to know how to do that. As always, I love everything about your posts. Reading another blog the other day, the lady had a tutorial about how to get "festival hair", I thought of you and laughed myself silly. (it involved a lot of $$$ haircare products)
ReplyDeleteOn the sale rail! Such a lovely colour and splendid embroidery. I would say what a lucky find but your chazza shopping for your business puts you in the right place at the right time.
ReplyDeleteIt does look great though, lucky you - did I say that?
The outfit is amazing ! :D I look to the late 60s 70s for style inspiration these days. Can't wait to find more authentic piece to wear and sell.
ReplyDeleteLove those pics from the 70's, when I was a teen and a wanna-be hippie girl! You found a fantastic new skirt, I really like the folk art. Have a blast tonight, with the house to yourself, and gin in the glass. xoxo
ReplyDeleteI was thinking exactly the same as Annie, you look like a mysterious traveller on a flying carpet. I loved all the photos but the close-ups of the necklace and anklets are my favourites. Never seen anklets like that before, they are awesome! Agree with you comments about the prices on the internet - confess I bought my mirrored skirt from an oppy and was delighted to find out it was made for Oxfam. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful skirt I just love it!!!
ReplyDeleteBonito vestido!!
ReplyDeleteSaludos
Love your skirt ... it looks happy ... if it could talk I bet it would be telling jokes ... probably dirty ones ;0)
ReplyDeletexx
You're right, you did have a great thrift week! That skirt is AMAZING!:)
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking us to your colorful exotic world again - it's every single time a journey here in your blog. The skirt is beautiful, and what a wonderful find! You look so lovely and peaceful reading a book in your garden. xxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteOh you torture me. I have such jewelry envy that I think I'll have to get a drink to get over it!!!
ReplyDeleteIf vintage clothing could talk, for sure! I'm lusting after that fabric you're sitting on. I collect those babies when I can find them secondhand. And that coin jewelry!
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ReplyDeleteI love the skirt!!! The necklace and anklets are perfect. Great pics <3
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this post, I've not traveled to India. But I often think the same about Buddhist icons that people have in their house because its so "in"? Why spend hundreds of dollars on that stuff, if you're really interested you could travel too South East Asia or China and buy some wonderful things and also have some amazing memories? Maybe people just like to have stuff? Not sure? I do love that "hippy" skirt :)
ReplyDeleteoh you're a bohemian dream queen!!
ReplyDeleteYou look great in that skirt..and those anklets are really cool, never saw anything like them before. I like the bedspread cover too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great find! I would not expect to find a Rabari skirt in the Uk! I guess one can really find anything there if one knows the places and are lucky enough. Beautiful skirt, suits your personality perfectly.
ReplyDeleteFecking LOVE that necklace!
ReplyDeleteThe skirt is just beautiful, and what a wonderful find.
The old pix just ROCK! Indeed, just how marvellous were these places back then?!
I agree, buy at the source. It makes for a better story when someone admires one's fabularse piece of jewellery, for one thing!
Love Helga xxxXXXxxx
You look stunning as usual , Its amazing what you can find isn't it , your photos are fab too as always.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, pet. I've come over all nostalgic for the Seventies and I'm sure that's my mum in one of those photos! She told me she was off to OU summer school!
ReplyDeleteThat skirt is fabulous and had you sewn all through it. Beautiful.
Have a terrific weekend.
Loves ya.
xxxxxxxx
We had so many of those bedspreads around the house. My Dad brought them back from his travels with the Air Force but not from India, I'm guessing probably Tehran or Cyprus?
ReplyDeleteI used to have a top like that too. What a stylish lot we were!
The smells, Vix, let's not forget the authentic smells of those clothes! The cottons were fishy, the knits reeked of incense and patchouli, and the leathers had an odd metallic tang. (And for those too young to remember the 60s, trust me, washing the cottons was not an option because they'd dissolve in detergent.)
ReplyDeleteWhat was the name of the goop we put on our hair? Neem? It did have a bracing herbal fragrance.
A beautiful, colourful, exciting post. Your skirt is amazing. Every time you speak of Goa you intrigue me. In fact over some chicken saag last night Ben and I were talking about India and you and Jon.
ReplyDeleteLovely skirt Vix, beautiful colours. I'm rather taken with the bedspread you are sitting on too, all makes for fabulous photos xx
ReplyDeleteIf we could put you in a time machine, you could land in the middle of that Goa hippie market and no one would bat an eyelash.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many people who travel to India, Indonesia, etc. just to scoop up crafts and jewellery and then sell them back in North America at a huge markup. There must be a market for it, or they wouldn't do it, but I wish that the people who made the items saw more of that profit. Any ethnic jewellery or clothing I own I found at thrift stores.
I've never seen anklets like that - so much more interesting than the chain ones. You are a Tribal Goddess!
Lovely find! The skirt really suits you x
ReplyDeleteTruly blessed are you Vix to find so many beautiful skirts , you make me envious !This one's marvellous , including the price !
ReplyDeleteLove your tribal jewellery and the little handbag , amazing ...
~Magical kisses~
~La Dryada~
fabulous skirt - what a find. Haven't persuaded husband or kids that a trip to goa is a must, so am left fuming at the overpriced stuff in the uk knowing that I could pick them up for a song if we went back there. Might just bugger off and leave them all to it - purely in the name of snaffling a fashion bargain, obviously!!
ReplyDeleteNot sure what I love more...the story or the skirt...GAH...I love them both just in different ways, LOL. But the colours and hand stitching in that skirt take my breath away.
ReplyDeleteThis post is so very wonderful Vix. I love this beautiful skirt and knowing the history of where it came from. If those hippies could see the prices of those vintage India dresses on eBay they'd be wishing they still had them! The purse in this post has me drooling and I just used my green purse you give me with the mirrors. I hope one of these days Chris and I can meet you and Jon in India so I can buy some of that beautiful old jewelry and watch the sunset with you both daily. I love your perspective, wisdom and well I just love you! Wonderful images from the 70's you could fit right in;)
ReplyDeleteLove you babe!
Xxxxooo
Vix that skirt is so gorgeous, I love love love it and that necklace is absolutely fabulous xoxo
ReplyDeleteI adore that skirt and it looks stunning on you! xx
ReplyDeleteoh, i love the beautiful indian skirt ... and if it might start to talk one day, please share it's stories with us!
ReplyDeleteThe skirt is amazing and I really love that necklace. I love your hippy history lesson and the fab photos that go with it! Have a lovely evening of sewing, gin and footie.
ReplyDeleteLove this! and I hadn't heard of the Intrepids, how brilliant, the pics are so cool and exciting, it must have been an awesome trip, but you know all about awesome trips to Goa! the skirt was made for you, it's beautiful, the jewellry! how flaming wonderful!the craftsmanship is mind boggingly brilliant, the angular ankle bracelet is stunning - hope you are having some bevvies tonight with the world cup final! Dave has took to cider and is very excitable right now haha! x x x
ReplyDeleteBlogger ate my comment!!! damn you blogger!!! and it was long too!! bastard blogger!!
ReplyDeleteVix, you look gorgeous in your beautiful made for you skirt, it's perfect! and the awesome hand crafted jewellry, I loved reading about the Intrepids (new to me!) and I hope you are having a few bevvies right now watching the final! x x x
Ooooooh, blogger didn't eat it, oooops haha! x x x
ReplyDeleteWhat a fab find! I can honestly say I have never seen anything like that in the chazzas near me, I'd have been drawn to it straight away! I love that Chelsea Girl halter top, and those historical pictures are great!
ReplyDeleteI try desperately not to think of all the beautiful hippie stuff I had back then, all thrifted for next to nothing...a Peruvian alpaca cape, hand-embroidered tops and dresses from Mexico, hand-made shoes from India, West Indian silver jewelry etc.
ReplyDeleteYour skirt is such a gorgeous find!!! I love the way it looks on you and I love the top, too, and your ankle bracelets are killing me!!! I do have a necklace similar to yours that I got in the early 80's. I used to wear it as a headpiece.
I have to learn more about the Overlanders! Never heard that name before. You are truly a torchbearer of style!! XXOO
What a wonderful little history lesson! And lucky you picked up that skirt! No doubt had some boutique hipster picked it up, it'd be sold as "ethnic gypsy boho chic
ReplyDeleteVintage" Skirt and sold for a pretty little sum at some silly London shop! Thank you for saving it and remembering its true origin, and the history of the town it came from the the people who made the trip to pick it up and bring it back to old blightly!
You are so beautiful, I just had to come have a look again. I love you girl!
ReplyDeleteXxxxxxoooooo
That skirt is a great find and you look so happy in all your Indian finds. Bet you're starting the countdown! I've come over a bit hippy myself recently, but you do it better because you love the country so much. Those photos of the original overland travellers are fantastic. Imagine being part of that all those years ago...xxxxxx
ReplyDeleteThis design is steller! You definitely know how to keep
ReplyDeletea reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog
(well, almost...HaHa!) Excellent job. I really enjoyed what you had to
say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!