FARAWAY LOOKS : Exotic Designs, Textures and Prints Give a Foreign Accent to Wardrobes
Batiks from Bali, caftans from Nigeria, silver jewelry from Tibet and belts from Bhutan add global character to any wardrobe.
You can enjoy textures, prints and designs from around the world without adding a stamp to your passport because culturally diverse clothing is available in Orange County.
“People who are attracted to this type of clothing are attracted to the warmth of exotic lands and far-away places from where the clothing comes,” says Rod Greenup, owner of Costa Azul in Laguna Beach. “I try to transcend that feeling with unique and original designs.”
Costa Azul specializes in Indonesian-made garments of batik and ikat prints--forms of “resist printing.” The batik design is created by painting wax on the fabric where the design is to remain uncolored by the dye. Ikat is a process where yarns are resist dyed and then woven into fabric.
At Costa Azul, unisex jackets--bomber, parka, Windbreaker and reversible styles with or without hoods--in cotton and rayon have adjustable button cuffs, Velcro closures and the Costa Azul logo ($35-$105).
Distinctive cotton “antique batik” fabric is used in women’s reversible boleros with coconut buttons, Tibetan coin button-up patchwork jackets and vests, and elasticized-waist pants for men.
Women’s rayon batik pants ($20-$40) come in various colors. There are also batik dresses, split skirts and jumpers in multiple styles ($25-$55).
Heavy-duty surf shorts offer a contemporary twist to the ancient ikat printing technique. Fabric designs and styles vary with each shipment, adding a stamp of individuality.
Adding a touch of bohemia are batik or ikat sandals from Java ($15) for men and women, and jewelry: Rastafarian bracelets, Peruvian hand-painted earrings, Indonesian wood- and bone-carved tribal medallions, and silver from Thailand, Bali and Mexico ($1-$30).
Townsends in Laguna Beach offers a historic perspective in dressing. “People have called us a mini-museum,” says owner Virginia Reap.
Where else but here or in a museum can you see a 1890s Tunisian wedding tunic, a Turkoman kimono-type robe called a chapan , a 24-inch-long Afghan dowry necklace with stone inlays or a collection of ancient African gold jewelry?
Dresses and textiles from around the globe are available, as are marriage blouses with open backs that would be worn with a heavy veil in India ($70-$80), wedding scarves of the Rabari shepherd people with elaborate embroidery depicting peacocks, scorpions, women and water pots ($80), hand-printed silk scarves ($20), dashiki-dyed pullover shirts for men ($49) and handwoven Bhutanese belts ($80).
Ikat caftans are the perfect background for Indonesian silver ($20-$200), glass-beaded jewelry ($20-$80) or Turkoman dowry pieces ($55-$2,300).
Some garments and accessories are designed and made on the premises utilizing fabrics, older garment pieces and beads from around the world. For those who want to create their own look, Townsends has a fabric room with Doupioni silks from India, ikats from Indonesia, handwovens from Guatemala and England, contemporary fabrics from Africa, cottons from Bali and hand-painted silks.
Laise Adzer in Fashion Island in Newport Beach offers belts, hats, vests, pants and tunic tops with aluminum studs on a black background from Thailand ($85-$350). Silk scarves, pants, dresses, tops and jackets are hand-painted with animal and environmental motifs, such as lions and suns ($110-$300). Hungarian white cotton shirts, skirts and bloomers are also available ($48-$110).
