earthy clothing

Find ease and comfort in this hand made 100% cotton batik short-sleeved dress from Thai artisan Alaya Cholprasertsuk, who draws inspiration from the scenery around her local village. In warm and cheery earth tones, the dress features two pheasants that greet the day atop a kaleidoscope of color reminiscent of the morning sun. A ribbon of orange swirls around the dress, evoking a sense of movement and freedom. The playful orange band continues to the back of the dress, accented by a cluster of flowers. The dress has two side pockets and a single button key-hole closure in the back.

A pair of peacocks will give you a royal look when you wear these majestic drop earrings designed by India's Ritu Thapar. Crafted from oven-fired terracotta, the earrings are hand painted with preening peacocks in jewel-toned blue and green, then finished with dangling golden baubles.

"My definition of world peace is the desire of every human being who decides and chooses to be at peace in their own way. If humans realize we can all choose to make peace by asking God to give us a heart that is peaceful and calm, then there will be no war. My hope for world peace is that all beings can individually create something good and respect each other, and then peace will be established," says Ida Ratna Ningrum.

The artist advocates for harmony and goodwill with her daydream-like painting "Pray for Peace." With idyllic realism, Ida creates a desert landscape symbolic of societal conflicts and scarcity, dominated by a prayerful young woman in a pink dress.

The artist explains that the cat and white rabbit symbolize rebirth and new beginnings, respectively, as they accompany the girl in her quest for peace. Circling above, white doves soar freely, symbolizing the release of a new period of peace under a pure blue sky. Thriving around the young woman, cacti, prickly pears and aloe represent the protection provided by mother nature, even in times of friction. An encouraging reminder of human resilience, the painting calls for a new peaceful era on planet Earth.

"Peace is the desire of every human being around the world," says the artist. "Prayer is a method of expression from a person to God and the universe. A sad girl sees a beautiful world without any feelings of peace, as if there is always war. She prays to God that the world will always be at peace without any war. If the world is free from war, the world will be peaceful, serene, and prosperous."