Last week Tamay rang me. She rang to say how sorry she was for everyone about the fire at Grenfell Tower, London. She said, it is so, so sad and that she was thinking about everyone who had been affected. "I am so sorry for everybody". I was so touched by this. I had to share it with you all. Tamay and I speak regularly. It is amazing that despite her not being able to read and write we have always been able to speak on the phone. Sometimes we don't always understand exactly, but we both listen and try other ways to say things and then we get it. It is truly satisfying, for both of us. (That's how we...
Inspired by the previous blog post Sophie wrote to me to ask to write a guest post... enjoy this wisdom I have been witness to the story of Tamay & Me for 8 years (and its inception another 8 years before that). It is the sort of love story that seems to get deeper with time. It carries a kind of enlivenment – a rare and sacred thing, especially in these times. To bear witness is a beautiful and humbling role. I also believe it to be necessary. For what are we humans to do if not shed some tears for and sing the love songs of that which we propose to learn from? Surely this could be a...
Dearest jacket, Thank you for your beauty. The pinks the blues and and all your hues. You are so soft and gentle. You remind me of the time I spent in Vietnam back in 2008, the months I spent with Tamay and the extraordinary process of sitting and sewing for hours and hours. You helped me to come of age. You have taken me though my hippy years when I rejected the society I came from and back again into womanhood and eventually home. You have inspired me to accept some things as they are and given me the courage to change the things I can. You represent how slowly slowly stitch by stitch I can make a difference. I...
Tamay & Me is an almost all women business ... (We do have 1 man on the team.) For me, the Dzao woman represents the ancient woman. It is magnificent to see in real life. I have always romanticised the ancient woman. A connected woman. A strong woman. The Dzao women are strong. They are proud. They rule the roost at home. Almost all of them are the breadwinners. Dzao women get up between 3-4 am each day. They are farmers. They are the most exceptional embroiderers. They make their own clothes. They have lots of kids. They look after their elderly. They cook healthy fresh food everyday. They chat and gossip. They move through each day...
The Dzao people live and breathe ethical. In the West, we are trying to re-find a way of wearing clothes that don't cost the earth. The Dzao have been doing it for centuries in the most beautiful way. The Dzao make their own clothes. They make them with pride to show off their skills and their identity. Every year a Dzao woman will make themselves a new set of clothes. A pair of trousers covered in embroidery and a jacket with the finest tail piece, sleeve embroidery and a panel of embroidery on the back. The embroidery is their finest tradition. It enables them to identified as Dzao. When they go to the market, when they are on...
