RŪPAHAUS preserves heritage and tradition with its raw and sustainable new collection
Slow-fashion label RŪPAHAUS has released its newest apparel collection – a considered and hand-made series of naturally dyed, ethically made pieces for men and women. Named im Frūhling, the new drop captures the brand’s ethos of preserving heritage and artisanal traditions, with a focus on handcrafted quality to cherish for years to come.
Founded by Stephanie Chandra in 2016, RŪPAHAUS focuses on cultivating the work of artisans in rural communities, working intimately with a team of 20 seamstresses, fabric cutters, pattern makers and embellishers in rural Indonesia to produce their collections, ensuring full control of quality and the protection of their workers. The new collection, the third release from the label, features must-have staples in natural colourways, crafted with organic raw cotton. A hands-on process of ‘eco dying’ has also been woven into the series, with colourants derived from tree leaves, flowers, fruits, bark and roots, which are then harvested, dried, mulched and cooked, eventually creating a syrup of dye.
With each garment they produce, RŪPAHAUS aims to unfold the unheard stories of their makers, artisans and craftsmen – and that’s just not a respectful one-liner added to a swing tag to make you feel better, it’s actually true. How so? Well, take one of the key motifs in the collection, the ‘lurik’ stripe, for example – it has been created from a family of weavers in Central Java, a skill that has been passed down in that family for generations. A series of other hand-drawn motifs and patterns are also used across the kimonos and shirts – all in a bid to grow and preserve the heritage, traditions and skills within these rural communities.
You can view the new RŪPAHAUS collection online.
