This mesmerising material is formed when trunks of wood are buried, usually under volcanic ash or mud, and deprived of oxygen. Over time every cell of the wood is replaced by other mineral elements such as silica, pyrite, agate or, in rare and beautiful cases, opal. The result is a beautiful memorial of bark, cambium, sapwood, even sometimes the pith; all the original lines of the cellular structures of wood but turned into rock which gives it incredible weight and a cool touch.
]]>Petrified wood is one of the oldest and most fascinating vestiges of pre-dinosaur earth.
The term ‘petrified’ conjures images of Medusa which is in fact perfectly accurate; it is literally wood which has been turned to stone (the Greek root of the word is ‘petro’ meaning rock or stone).
This mesmerising material is formed when trunks of wood are buried, usually under volcanic ash or mud, and deprived of oxygen. Over time every cell of the wood is replaced by other mineral elements such as silica, pyrite, agate or, in rare and beautiful cases, opal. The result is a beautiful memorial of bark, cambium, sapwood, even sometimes the pith; all the original lines of the cellular structures of wood but turned into rock which gives it incredible weight and a cool touch.
Indonesia is rich with petrified wood because of its persistent volcanic activity over millions of years - most of it is found nestled in the shadows of volcanoes in West Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi. However although there are pieces that have been found dating back to the Triassic period (when the supercontinent of Pangaea gave life to the first mammals and dinosaurs), there are other much younger examples of petrified wood. The entire water-city of Venice, originally a swamp, had large logs of timber hammered into the watery ground to form the very foundation on which everything was built. That wooden foundation, over hundreds of years of suffocation by the mud, is now a solid stone base.
The wonder of this stone is the uniqueness or ‘fingerprint’ of every piece; it is impossible to know what patterns and colours lie hidden inside the log until it is cut and ground. In Indonesia typically the stone wears colours of black, pale grey and brown while North American petrified wood often features touches of reds and blues.
At SOUQ we have favourites. We source rare pieces of pure white and grey and love the contrast of black and white where the shapes within are very defined rather than scattered patterns.
We work with excellent artisans who cut and polish the stone to perfection to give soft edges to each piece and smooth surfaces to our plates. The creations we have made from this fossil include cheeseboards, book-ends, dinner plates and table tops.
As with all the Earth’s beautiful resources, naturally-occurring petrified wood is finite so it is a very special and unique piece to take home from your travels in Indonesia.
]]>The streets of Bali are awash today with the sounds of gamelan and the clouds of white kebayas floating towards the ocean for Melasti ceremonies. This is the beginning of Nyepi, the Balinese lunar new year celebrations.
]]>Famously known as ‘the day of silence’, Nyepi is the first day of the new year and is recognised by absolute peace. No sounds except those from nature, no light other than the sun's, no activity except meditation - a day to wipe the slate clean and begin again with self-reflection.
But before the calm is the raucous storm of celebration culminating in the Ngerepuk ceremony where huge monsters are paraded through the jalans of every banjar on the island. One of the most incredible displays of cultural artwork in the world, the monsters, known as ‘ogoh-ogoh’ are giant effigies made by young boys from their local villages.
For months before Nyepi, behind huge curtains, each banjar secretly builds an ogoh-ogoh from chicken wire, papier mache and bamboo to be revealed to the village people on the night of the parade. These ogoh-ogoh are macabre visions of horror supposed to represent the 'Bhuta Kala’ - the spirits and creatures of evil. Sometimes more than 15 feet tall and often hilariously twisted, they may be three-headed monster-men with bosoms drooping to the floor while slaying a dragon or a giant lizard with a 2m tongue drinking Bintang beer. Regardless of form, the painting, detail and creative vision of these creatures is worthy of a world gallery tour.
The night before the island goes dark, music is fired up and the ogoh-ogoh are stomped through the villages on floats to coax all the evil spirits to come out to play. And just when these spirits are lured out and lulled into a sense of frivolity, an exorcism is performed by burning and tearing apart the ogoh-ogoh. These extraordinary art forms, months in the making, are destroyed in one fell swoop.
The hope is that when the surviving evil spirits recover and awake, they will ascend over Bali and see that, with no light, no sound and no movement, there is no-one home on the island so they will pass by and move on.
Not only are the ogoh-ogoh a beautiful manifestation of the traditional skills and valued creative nature of the Balinese people, they are also a wonderful reflection of the lack of attachment to material things that is so much a part of Hindu culture. No matter your leaning, Nyepi is a truly fascinating and meaningful holiday to be part of.
]]>Bali has an amazing magical magnetic pull; so much so that people often come for a short holiday and find themselves looking for a home to bring them back here. That was the experience for Bea who found an idyllic spot on the beach that could be her home with her family for a year away from the bustle of Barcelona. Bea approached SOUQ’s designers, Sophie and Peter to help her transform the space from a bare villa into a warm and calm place that they could really feel was their home while they were away from their own.
The specifics were simple but tight: recreate the space working within the parameters of the existing structure with a sophisticated beach vibe but it had to be ready within 60 days so that they could enjoy it for as much of the short time they were in Bali. Rather than filling it with the inexpensive and disposable furniture often used to decorate Bali villas for transient guests, Sophie and Peter were committed to maintaining the philosophy of SOUQ: enduring and original design that employed the artisan skills of Indonesian craftspeople.
They aimed for warm natural textures that would balance the bright light of the beach beyond their glass doors, custom-made furnishings that would make the home interesting and specially theirs, and artwork from Indonesia that reflects the extraordinary landscape and culture of Bali.
Here are a few glimpses of the space and it’s reformation:
And here are a few shots of the space before the interior renovations began:
See more Furniture & Bespoke
]]>Last week the Galungan and Kuningan holiday celebrations began in Bali which for non-Hindus amongst us means only that there are plentiful local ceremonies to witness, numerous staff absent from work and an abundance of traffic jams on our tiny island roads!
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But for the Balinese, Galungan is one of the most significant holidays of the year. Hindu women cook through the night preparing abundant feasts for their community and weaving decorations from banana palm and men line the streets with penjors and prepare their banjars and temples for ceremonies.
As with many of the celebrations in Bali, they are beautiful to watch but the meaning of them eludes many of us. So what is the Galungan and Kuningan holiday all about?
In Hindu culture the purpose of this holiday is to celebrate the triumph of ‘dharma' over ‘adharma’ which means that truth and morality stand victorious over ego and turpitude.
The Balinese Hindus believe that on the first day of Galungan the spirits of their dead ancestors come back to Earth to visit their loved ones and they stay for 11 days until the final day of Kuningan. While the spirits are visiting, their living relatives should make them feel welcome and have a duty to make offerings and prayers in their honour. The celebration is similar in this sense to holidays celebrated in other cultures such as the Mexican Dia de Muertos or pagan Halloween both of which coincidentally fell in the same week as Galungan this year (an unusually busy week for the dead, for those who believe!).
In mythology the story surrounding the Galungan celebration focuses on a conflict between Indra, the God of thunder, rain and lightning and the earthly King Mayadenawa. The King would not allow the people to practice Hinduism and was so powerful that even the Majapahit army could not defeat him. After many battles, Indra descended to earth to deal with the King. Knowing Indra would subdue him, he morphed into different forms to escape the angry god but Indra recognised him as a statue, a stone and a wild boar. Eventually the King escaped to the jungle but left behind decoy footprints to fool Indra as to where he had run. Indra tracked him down and killed him with his magic arrow at the freshwater spring which is now the Tirta Empul Temple in Gianyar. The surrounding area is named ‘Tampaksiring’ which literally means ’slanting footprints’ referring to the King’s disguised tracks.
Galungan was created to honour Indra and his moral or ‘dharma’ defeat over the evil ‘adharma’ King Mahadenawa.
So during Galungan Bali is awash with symbolic decorations: the streets are lined with ‘penjor’ - the tall bamboo poles that are curved at the end and decorated in leaves, flowers, and ornate young coconut leaves which represent the upholding of Hinduism; the ground is dotted with ’sesajen’ and ‘banten' - the flower-filled offerings for the ancestral spirits and the gods; and the tables are filled with festive food like tapai ketan fermented glutinous rice and lawar made from coconut and duck.
So if you believe, may the spirits of your family enjoy their time on earth and may good always triumph over bad.
]]>Who would you like to have a conversation with, living or dead?
Anyone of my close friends; Karen Armstrong; Martin Amis; the scientists working on the conversion of carbon dioxide to other elements and the clean decomposition of plastic; and of course my ever-challenging wife Sophie Gargett.
Any last words?
I know who Banksy is.
What’s your favourite job you’ve ever worked on?
Probably the first ever commercial design project I worked on - a small seafood cafe in Darlinghurst called Fish Face. No doubt one of the reasons I loved it is because I was my own client - my best friend, Rob Laurie and I owned the cafe together. I designed the whole concept from the uniforms and menus to the style of service and the interior of the cafe and I worked with my brother who made the table and bar tops.
I have learnt since then and through many years of designing for other people to appreciate the incredible creative freedom of working on your own project. I have also really loved the creation of SOUQ. I’ve worked on this at a much later stage of my life (when, with two young kids, freedom is a relative concept!) but SOUQ is a culmination of many years of experience and change in my aesthetic.
What is your design mission for SOUQ?
I want SOUQ to have a distinctive personality so that the things we create become part of a larger aesthetic family that we build on. But I believe when it comes to design ‘the less conspicuous, the better’.
I love to use natural materials and traditional manufacturing artistry to create something that is unique and contemporary but in which you can still see the touch of human hands rather than factories and machines.
The environmental aspects of design are really important to me too – I don’t want to be designing and making things for the sake of having something new – it needs to be well-made and durable so that it is not discarded and added to the world’s waste pile.
What do you think about the design community in Bali?
There are a lot of wonderful things happening in design in Bali. Modern architectural design here is really inspiring such as the work of Kerry Hill and Peter Mueller.
And the traditional design work and skills here are constantly incredible to me – they have had a huge impact on world-recognised designers for example Tom Dixon and his beaten copper lights. This work is so beautiful not only in it’s result but the fact that it is has such old origins and has continued despite the extraordinary change that has swirled around it. I was recently in the Gilis and noticed a wooden boat half-constructed on the sand. It had been chocked together from interlocking pieces without a single nail hammered into it and with no disruption to the beach that it sat on. I thought it was so clever in its simplicity; different materials react differently to the harsh environment of the ocean and that interplay of reactions can compromise a structure. The fact that this boat was made entirely of wood meant it had perfect synergy; none of the elements of it were working against each other. The downside of design in Bali is that the copying is out of control. Because we’re at the source of production, a person only needs to buy something original from a store then walk it down to a workshop a few doors away to have someone else copy it. Sadly amongst both the craftsmen and the consumers there is very little respect for the effort that goes into original design.
Whose work or personality do you admire in the design world right now?
I’m actually not all that familiar with what goes on in ‘the design world’ - I don’t use social media, read magazines or watch tv. Most of my exposure to design comes through film. I’ve always enjoyed the nostalgic quirkiness of Wes Anderson’s sets and recently loved a lot of the design elements in Ex Machina from the architecture to the sleek way they communicated the crossover between humanism and automation through the design of the AI.
I’m always admiring of small independent designers – I think there are so many great original ideas amongst them but it’s really tough with limited resources to develop those ideas into products and get them out there.
In what way do you think ethics apply to design?
I think design is shrouded in ethical issues. Originality, copying and lack of intellectual property protection have been big issues for design for a long time. Obviously inspiration is drawn from everywhere but to copy someone is to dismiss the amazing heart and effort that goes into creating an image of something and the long hard road to seeing it through to fruition. This is obviously a lot harder to deal with in a world of social media and instant imagery. But I think the most pressing issues for design now are environmental and social. Design is about aesthetic and engineering but I believe now that it must also have as little impact as possible in terms of the materials its made from, the production methods used to make it, how it is used by the consumer and how long the design can endure before it is turned into waste, not to mention making sure that the people who make it are fairly rewarded for their skill and time.
What do you think the world holds for design and creative industry in the years ahead?
There’s no question that technology holds a future for design that we almost can’t imagine. It’s spooky. But I hope that provenance will trump technology – even if the same product can be made by a 3D printer as by human hand, there will always be value in the uniqueness of something that is the creation of a person's mind and experience. I hope that traditional skills will become more valued. I lived in China for 8 years and I saw how many artisan skills were lost through modern production and a modern mindset. I believe there is a younger generation now who is becoming dull to the concept of mass production; I hope they will tune in to the ways of craftsmanship and pass these skills on. I hope for the sake of the environment that cycles in design will be longer; that design will be more about quality and durability than a trend in aesthetic. Waste and the use of resources are such an issue for us all and I just don’t think we can sustain the ADD of consumption that we are living with now – we need to get to a point where we realize we can’t have everything so that we invest in things that are better made, less often.
What is your ultimate design project or collaboration?
I have a property on the Colo River in New South Wales, Australia – I would love to design my own home for that property. For me it would be a collaboration with the land - it would be a structure that sits beautifully within that landscape, barely disrupting the environment, and would last for generations. I also want to design products that are permanent with an absolute commitment to the environment and sustainability.
Favourite colour?
All of them. It depends on how they’re combined. My daughter has even made me like purple and my wife has made me like yellow.
Favourite music?
So much; Massive Attack, The Roots, Joan Armatrading, Tricky, Elliot Smith, Johnny Cash… It’s probably easier to say what I don’t like – most of the stuff on the charts and anything with inane lyrics. Sadly with music these days I think there’s not the journey in discovery that there once was. The music that people listen to now is selected for them or recommended to them by computer software; it’s based on what apps see is a relevant connection to an artist you’ve listened to before. “People you may also like” just lacks depth and connection. Discovering music used to require more effort and it was more rewarding because of that; you’d get together with friends and play music to each other, talk about it, read the album covers and follow the threads of producers, collaborators and all the people who’d worked on an album. You could walk into someone’s home and see the albums they had on their shelves and get a sense of who they were. It’s a great shame that music has become so superficial in this sense.
Most interesting work that someone you know is doing at the moment?
The protest-makers and change-makers: my friends who make documentary films and build reefs.
Favourite City?
Sydney for its geography. Rome for the food and history.
Who would you like to have a conversation with, living or dead?
Anyone of my close friends; Karen Armstrong; Martin Amis; the scientists working on the conversion of carbon dioxide to other elements and the clean decomposition of plastic; and of course my ever-challenging wife Sophie Gargett.
Any last words?
I know who Banksy is.
]]>“Through that language, encountered at mother’s knee and parted with only at the grave, pasts are restored, fellowships are imagined, and futures dreamed.” – Benedict Anderson, "Imagined Communities"
Selamat Hari Kemerdekaan - Happy Independence Day!
]]>Today is Indonesian Independence Day and a national holiday for us all (though SOUQ remains open and will be barbecuing on the terrace if you feel like popping by!).
This week we’ve handed the microphone over to our Marketing Director, Marisa Faizul, to explain the significance of this day and tell you what it means for Indonesians.
With a little brother named after Turkish revolutionary Kemal Ataturk, and a family library spilling over with the biographies of presidents, prime ministers and freedom-fighters, it is little wonder that Indonesia’s Independence Day was a day of such significance in my home.
My childhood was filled with my grandparents' tales of life under Dutch colonial rule followed by the Japanese occupation during WWII where Indonesians were forced into ‘Romusha’ labor camps. These were the revolution-inspiring stories that I carried with me when I marched with my classmates against the military (following Suharto’s resignation) in 1999. They are the memories Indonesians conjure every year on the 17th of August when we celebrate the day in 1945, as our forebears made the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence to make the country our own. That historic proclamation was made by the dashing architect Sukarno (known admiringly by Marilyn Monroe as 'the Prince’) and the bookish economist Mohammad Hatta - the dynamic duo who would thereafter be known as Indonesia’s founding fathers and 'proclamators'.
Once named ‘The United States of Indonesia’, uniting a country of such diverse cultural backgrounds and with so many different spoken languages was no mean feat (hence the formation of Bahasa Indonesia - a single uniting language). But the melting pot that was Indonesia then is what it still is today; an archipelago of communities of different religions, nationalities, languages and aspirations that we proudly celebrate on Independence Day.
“Through that language, encountered at mother’s knee and parted with only at the grave, pasts are restored, fellowships are imagined, and futures dreamed.” – Benedict Anderson, "Imagined Communities"
So how do we celebrate?
Bali is now awash with red and white - bordering our streets, decorating homes and shopfronts and flying like kites in the sky, the ubiquitous flag fills our banjars with the anticipation of celebrations.
This modern flag of Indonesia was first flown in 1928 and subsequently prohibited by the Dutch. It wasn’t until the day of proclamation in 1945 that it was formerly adopted as the national flag. In the canopy of those flags across Bali, you’ll see us revelling in some of these hilarious games this Thursday:
Lomba Krupuk
Krupuk are the deep fried swirly crackers that you would recognise from street carts (or nestled into the side of your nasi goreng). On Independence Day they are made in varying shapes and sizes, tied on a string, with contestants locking their hands behind their backs and racing each other to eat them. Incredibly tricky but hilarious fun.
Bola Daster
Men dressed in traditional textiles playing football - unfortunately I can offer no background or explanation for this peculiar ritual!
Lomba Paku
‘Paku’ is the word for ‘nail’ in Indonesian - for this game a string is tied around the waist with a long tail, at the end of which is a nail. Contestants walk backwards and then stand over a small bottle to lower the swinging nail into the neck of the bottle. This game requires concentration, endurance and a lot of strange posturing.
Panjat Pinang
Everyone’s favourite: a present is perched atop a towering pole - the first to reach the top claims the prize! During this event it's not uncommon to see some prizes as small as keychains and others as large as bicycles.
Let us know in the comments below how you're celebrating Independence Day!
]]>The first time I turned a tiny corner to see the dome of the Pantheon, I had a new comprehension for the famed arrogance of Romans; if ever overbearing pride is to be tolerated it should be for the cause of this city.
]]>The first time I turned a tiny corner to see the dome of the Pantheon, I had a new comprehension for the famed arrogance of Romans; if ever overbearing pride is to be tolerated it should be for the cause of this city.
The ancientness and elegance is palpable and unique even amongst the other stars of Europe. Despite the financial tribulations of recent Italy, Rome remains the stoic and sophisticated matriarch of her country - beautifully groomed (if not suffering a little from the assault of very blah graffiti - it’s intentional not to refer to it as street art here) in her recently revamped Colosseo crown with a polished pair of Spanish Step shoes and her iridescent Fontana di Trevi handbag. Italian fashion houses such as Bulgari and Fendi have recently footed the bill for thorough restoration of the city’s monuments so if you think you’ve 'seen them before', see them now.
They’re so bright and glistening you could see them from the moon. Whilst I could talk you through the must-sees amongst the myriad iconic structures of the city with great enthusiasm, SOUQ had a mandate: to bring you a snippet of the best eating and shopping experiences to be enjoyed in a short time. And eat I did. For you. And for a small country.
Let’s begin controversially. With coffee.
*clears throat and takes deep brave breath...
It is my firm and unwavering belief that Australians make the best cup of coffee in the world. They did learn their craft from Italian migrants but along the way they have refined it so they have themselves become the masters of the trade. In fact it was a struggle to find an excellent coffee in Rome but if anything drives my persistence it is this loved and elusive perfect morning start. So without further ado, here are my top locales for the best coffee in the centre of Rome:
1. Caffè Roscioli - the owners of the famed Roscioli Salumeria and Antico Forno near the Campo de Fiori have opened a small espresso bar just a few doors down and they continue their legacy of perfection in everything they produce.
2. Er Baretto - the prettiest place to begin your day in the Monti neighbourhood and a gorgeous coffee to match.
3. Sant'Eustachio Il Caffè - though pricier than others with a cool attitude towards the 'tourista’ (of which there are many here) we don’t quibble when it comes to our coffee so will happily settle for this excellent cup served with a grimace.
And a tip for my coffee-connoisseur compatriots: if a piccolo is your preferred, ask for a macchiato in Rome whereas if your hit is a flat-white, request a ‘cappuccino senza schiuma’.
Moving on to food - I barely know where to begin.. and I certainly don’t know where to end thanks to the cryovacced-stores of fennel-dried prosciutto rind, fresh gnocchi, guanciale and white anchovies I returned home with.
Note that my efforts on this trip were directed toward very accessible food and restaurants - there were no Michelin stars shining on these places but honestly such accolades seem almost nonsensical when indulging in heavenly simply-prepared Italian produce. And I was fortunate to be there in Spring, the glorious moment of the artichoke which I made sure to delight in every way it could possibly come.
So here we go, my best culinary moments from this short trip:
1. Campo de Fiori - the daily market that operates here, though overrun with global, cheap, poor souvenir landfill, is still a good place to buy a pungent summer peach or a basket of magenta cherries to have with your coffee and a little vine of tomatoes for later. But for God’s sake don’t stop there. Wander over to Forno for a slab of pizza with artichokes and pecorino or zucchini flowers and anchovies, then cross back to Baccanale for a porchetta panino (not the best of it’s kind in Rome but start your quest here and you’ll not regret the journey). Still going. Stop at two places to add to your stores for later: Ruggeri where you must buy a fresh burrata languishing in it’s little bath of brine and some Sicilian sea salt.
Then over to Norcineria Viola, generational experts in one thing only: cured pork. Buy Prosciutto di Parma and glowing red strips of prosciutto rind dried with fennel. Allora: you have snacks for the day’s basalt-pounding that exploring Rome requires.
2. Nonna Betta - in the Jewish Ghetto not far from the Palazzo Venezia, order as follows: artichoke carpaccio, white anchovies with olive oil and pink peppercorns, fresh pasta with pecorino, pepper and chicory (and then order this again) and artichokes in the Roman-Jewish style - carciofi alla Giudia.
3. Trastevere - I adore this neighbourhood and there are so many incredible spots to eat but an equal number of horrible traps. My recommendations are Trattoria Da Enzo, Osteria zi Umberto and Tavernaccia Da Bruno - all wonderful places to introduce you to Cucina Romana.
4. And lest I omit the holy grail of gelato, I have only one must: Frigidarium near the Piazza Navona. There was not another gelateria that came close for me.
But truly to isolate only a few places from so many exquisite offerings in Rome is too difficult a task. Wherever you go, you must enjoy the 4 classic pastas of Rome that gorgeously build on their ingredients from one to the other, all of which famously were the frugal ingredients to be found in the backpacks of shepherds of old wandering the Lazio region:
- cacio e pepe made with only black pepper, pasta water (essential) and lashings of Pecorino Romano;
- pasta alla Gricia which adds guanciale (cured pork) and garlic to the above;
- pasta all’Amatriciana made as alla Gricia with the addition of tomatoes and chilli; and
- pasta alla Carbonara which excludes the tomatoes but adds eggs to the base of guanciale, pasta water and Pecorino Romano.
For aperitivo or digestivo you’re mad not to pop by the gorgeous garden of the Hotel Locarno for a bittersweet Roma-Bracciano but I mostly adored sitting in the courtyard of the Bar del Fico or eagle-eyeing the suave crowd at Salotto 42.
Having waxed lyrical thus far, Rome it must be said is an odd place for shopping. As with most cities around the globe it has succumbed to the ease of housing big international brand stores (though it’s true that the designer houses of Europe seem a lot more at home in the refined setting of Rome) and Italians are not the most adventurous when it comes to welcoming smaller design brands that don’t have Italian heritage. Also, unlike many international cities, Rome is not home to a grand and impressive department store - Coin and La Rinascente fall far short of anything comparable to Merci in Paris, Liberty in London or Barneys New York. So in Rome I think it’s almost better to talk of shopping areas rather than particular stores:
1. Monti has my heart; full of vintage stores spilling over with fantastic pieces from 50’s Italy like a scene from The Talented Mr Ripley. It’s also home to a lot of burgeoning young design stores you don’t see elsewhere. Wander down Via del Boschetto and Via Panisperna, down to Madonna dei Monti and be sure to visit interior design store Nora P.
2. Across the centro historic in the Piazza Navona area are some more homewares gems - the divine Society Limonta for luxurious linen bedsheets and home textiles in exquisite colour palettes; tiny L’Argania for silver lamp shades and high-end Moroccan imports; Sfera Otto for rich original furniture and homewares which are hard to come by in a city devoted to their national design brands.
3. Fashion stores are planted all over the city but the more prominent brands are housed in the vias close to the Spanish Steps running between Via Del Corso and Via Del Babuino. The famous Italian hat company Borsalino is a gorgeous place to admire and one of my favourite Italian brands is close by - Maliparmi combines tribal prints and textures with beautiful colour palettes in shoes, bags and clothing. & Other Stories is a great inexpensive fashion brand whose flagship store in Via Borgogna is very impressive and worth a visit and Delfina Delettrez is stunning for her jewellery.
4. If you’re an amaro-lover as I am, go to Angelini Enoteca - a pirate’s chest of alcoholic treasure with bottles of everything, some very old, stacked to the ceiling baring gorgeous Italian graphics. Angelini himself still mans the counter and looks as though he’s barely moved for 50 years.
And so ends a brief summary of a very short trip - never long enough but long enough to have won my heart as my favourite city in the world. I’ll only have more to add to this list as I go back and back again. But in fact the real pleasure of Rome is in simply being there. Walking. Eating. Looking.
]]>But there's something else that is inherently special and little-known about cashmere. Unlike cotton which requires tonnes of water and acres of land to grow, or wool which is shorn from sheep that are farmed for their coats, cashmere is an innately sustainable and renewable resource. The nomadic farmers of Mongolia raise their goats on the green grasslands, moving once the pastures are stripped to allow the land to regenerate. When the spring arrives and the goats no longer need their undercoat for warmth, the cashmere is gently combed from them.
In a world of fast fashion and ever-mounting fashion waste, it's comforting to know that there is still something beautiful and durable that you can feel good about buying.
KID is a brand of pure Mongolian cashmere knitwear designed for men, women and home. Sophie and Peter, the owners of SOUQ, began this brand when they lived in Shanghai before moving to Bali. They travelled to Mongolia to source their cashmere and worked with artisans in small mills and environmentally-friendly cooperatives to turn the yarn into KID garments.
KID's focus is beauty and quality - not fashion. They create simple designs from premium cashmere so they will last forever. Just like your grandmother's cashmere did.
SOUQ is now the exclusive home to KID cashmere.
You may wonder why KID is any different from other cashmere brands: KID uses only pure premium cashmere. Just like wine, there is good and bad cashmere (often these days it is not even cashmere at all). The fiber can be thick or thin, coarse or smooth, long or short. These things affect how fine and soft the cashmere is and whether your garment will 'pill'. They are what separate the goats from the sheep, so to speak.
But why sell cashmere in an equatorial country? Just when you think cashmere can't be any more amazing, it also has excellent thermal-regulation qualities. This means that its insulating properties change with the atmosphere making it able to modulate the body’s temperature: warm in winter, cool in summer.
Treated properly, real and pure cashmere will get softer and better with age..
Make a choice to invest in fashion. Consider buying one beautiful lasting thing instead of the ten you'll throw away at the end of the season. Click here to view our KID products in store that are made to endure.
]]>With the inspiration for MISCHA’s new Hideaway Collection being SOUQ’s home of Bali and it’s rich heritage in textiles, there is a beautiful synergy between SOUQ and MISCHA.
This event launched MISCHA in Bali and offered everyone a unique experience with the brand as well as the designer, Michelle Lai. Michelle has a long-standing commitment to empowering women, expressed through her work with The Women’s Foundation and charities supporting girls education. Michelle was invited to be a speaker at TED X Youth Hong Kong in 2013 and was featured in Star World TV’s Inspiring Women special for International Women’s Day in 2014.
Whilst being served Mango Bellini and a list of tasty dishes not on our menu (such as Portabello mushrooms , mini cured salmon bagels, honey & cardamom morning buns, etc.) guests were able to take a closer look at the new collection and get an insider perspective on it direct from the Deisgner, Michelle Lai.
The Hideaway Collection is a resort capsule collection for SS2017 which is inspired by Balinese textiles and celebrates balmy summer nights, lush green rice paddy fields and sun-kissed skin.
The pattern is printed with silkscreen and features the MISCHA signature print superimposed onto a miniature version of the print, reminiscent of traditional Balinese Ikat weaving.
The new collection is made with coated-canvas, reminiscent of old-school luxury luggage, and combined with modern graphics and impeccable design details. The sophisticated aesthetic of the collection has very Helmut Newton-esque era vibes that work beautifully to compliment the other offerings at SOUQ.
The champagne brunch launch started at 10.30 am and unlike the usual fare in Bali, guests started to arrive on time and on schedule. Among them were our friends from the PTT Family (Potatohead and Katamama), the Seminyak Village, the W hotel – Bali, The Yak, The Honeycombers, and BestinBali.
With our VIP bloggers such as Tabitha (Heels and Beyond), Sally Diana (DSallyna), and Jennifer Bachdim (JBachdim) giving us a wider virtual audience in Asia as the event went on.
VIP guests were greeted with a collection of gifts courtesy of SOUQ and Cocoon Medical Spa, our partner for the event, including a gold treatment mask (a spa favourite in Bali). All in all, it was one of those mornings that should happen every Friday x
With the inspiration for MISCHA’s new Hideaway Collection being SOUQ’s home of Bali and it’s rich heritage in textiles, there is a beautiful synergy between SOUQ and MISCHA.
]]>ABOUT MISCHA
Michelle was inspired by her extensive travels to launch MISCHA in 2004. She began the collection with the perfect tote bag printed with her iconic hexagon print then expanded into other styles and travel accessories.
Michelle’s intention for MISCHA is to bridge the worlds of fashion and lifestyle to create timeless styles that embody the intrepid spirit and empowerment of the women of today.
THE DESIGNER
Michelle learnt about craftsmanship from her grandmother who was a skillful seamstress and ensured that the women in her family were always impeccably dressed.
After gaining a degree in Biomedical Sciences at Kings College London, Michelle began a career in education. However, her passion for travel, art and creative pursuits lead her to launch her maiden collection of hand-stitched vintage Japanese obi clutches in 2004. They quickly gained a cult following and MISCHA was launched in 2008. In 2010, Michelle created The Travel Series, the first collection to feature the brand's signature hexagon print.
THE COLLECTION
The Hideaway Collection is a resort capsule collection for SS17, which is inspired by Balinese textiles and celebrates balmy summer nights, lush green rice paddy fields and sun-kissed skin.
The pattern is printed with silkscreen and features the MISCHA signature print superimposed onto a miniature version of the print, reminiscent of traditional Balinese Ikat weaving.
Available in Bali only at SOUQ (for a limited time).
THE CONSCIENCE
Michelle has a long-standing commitment to empowering women, expressed through her work with The Women’s Foundation and charities supporting girls education. Michelle was invited to be a speaker at TED X Youth Hong Kong in 2013 and was featured in Star World TV’s Inspiring Women special for International Women’s Day in 2014.
THE EVENT
SOUQ has earned a reputation for supporting new creative talent and helping these young socially conscious brands reach a wider audience.
With the inspiration for MISCHA’s new Hideaway Collection being SOUQ’s home of Bali and it’s rich heritage in textiles, there is a beautiful synergy between SOUQ and MISCHA.
The collection is made with coated-canvas, reminiscent of old-school luxury luggage, which is combined with modern graphics and impeccable design details. The sophisticated aesthetic of the collection has very Helmut Newton-esque era vibes that work beautifully to compliment the other offerings at SOUQ.
This event will launch MISCHA in Bali as well as offer you the special service of having your MISCHA items personally monogrammed.
Amongst soft cool tunes and the buzz of the morning crowd at SOUQ café you’ll enjoy champagne and fresh morsels from our organic kitchen.
POP UP SHOP
Starts 18th May 2017
LAUNCH
10.30 am, Friday, 19th May 2017
]]>This is our little notebook of all things SOUQ - It's where we keep our words and sort our thoughts.
]]>This is our little notebook of all things SOUQ. It's where we keep our words and sort our thoughts. Click Here to enter.
]]>We live in one of the most abundant archipelago’s that doesn’t just have beautiful weather but also beautiful farming traditions and a plethora of culinary wealth. And with the rise of the slow food movement, we’ve come to see not just the prominence of organic food but also the rise of ethical restaurants that cater to culinary delights that ease your mind and enrich your heart...
]]>We’re so saturated by labels and the marketing of healthy food that we’ve either become immune to anything healthy or are so paranoid that we just can’t enjoy our meals anymore.
Luckily we live in one of the most abundant archipelago’s that doesn’t just have beautiful weather but also beautiful farming traditions and a plethora of culinary wealth.
With the rise of the slow food movement, we’ve come to see not just the prominence of organic food but also the rise of ethical restaurants that cater to culinary delights that ease your mind and enrich your heart.
Here at SOUQ we’ve always had a soft spot for locally sourced produce that gives back to the community and affords the earth a little more breathing space. We don’t import material for our kitchens and know our suppliers like the back of our hand. We follow the seasons and abide by nature as best we can.
And although we hope you enjoy our vegetarian dishes, we do respect peoples right to choose. Hence, our meats are supplied by people who we know have taken care to meet the animals welfare needs, such as open living spaces, ethically sound and cruelty free farming practices, and a host of other attitudes that won’t break your heart.
We believe in getting to know all aspects of our work by utilizing lots of common sense. We know that sustainable practices for everyone else will also mean a sustainable business for us.
Our vegetables and fruit are organic not because we buy into the whole marketing concept of faux-organic food, but because it is a farming model that is traditional to our Island and across Asia, and has been proven to be renewable and worthwhile for our communities.
We also have a habit of making our food from scratch (sorry, we don’t have bottled tomato ketchup or mayonnaise – although we do make our own!) This helps make sure that the food tastes as we intended it to. This is also the reason why your order might not be as fast as we would like it to be, but hey… that’s what the slow food movement is all about!
And although we do enjoy touting our own horn, the best part about our work is that it’s a shared sort of love. We enjoy finding those rare venues that give us a different taste of the same kind of joy; like our favorite place for culinary adventure in Ubud: Locavore.
Led by classically trained chefs Ray and Eelke, the passionate and dedicated kitchen team creates unique and contemporary European fare from the finest of locally sourced seasonal ingredients.
Artfully presented, meticulously prepared and utterly delicious, the cuisine of Locavore promises an exhilarating fine dining experience motivated by an ingredient-driven menu that celebrates the farmers, fishers and food artisans of Indonesia.
Over 95% of the kitchen’s ingredients are Indonesian with Locavore’s own garden provideing some seasonal vegetables and herbs, further reducing the huge carbon footprint of imported foods. The kitchen uses Kintamani coffee, hand-crafted sea salt from north Bali, spices from the mountains and fresh seafood from Eastern Indonesia. They also painstakingly source the animals they use in their kitchens, ensuring that they were free ranged, raised on wholesome natural foods and dispatched with respect.
The marriage of fresh, local ingredients with the inspired dishes of these prize-winning chefs has proved enormously popular with international diners who love both the concept and the food. And as always when it comes to excellence - book at least two weeks in advance for a dinner table!
And if you can’t get a table, there is always our go-to supershop in Berawa - Peloton.
The venue stands as a combination of a Vegan Cafe & Bicycle Store, allowing you to share the fun & ease of a conscious lifestyle within an environment that feels communal. Peloton super shop is a one-stop planet friendly shop, with hearty plates that are instagram friendly as well as tasty. With such a comfortable and relaxed vibe, this super store attracts all people from all walks of life. Artists, scientists, food engineers, craftsmen, healers & lovers are all welcome here.
Let us know what you think about our go-to superfood places in the comments below!
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Put your feet up...
… at THE SLOW hotel. Best room design in Bali. And if you can’t get in (which you probably can’t since it’s the hottest ticket in town)…
...Just come for a long lunch!
There’s something magical about The Slow’s bar and restaurant at lunchtime; soft light, perfect vibe and a soft-shell crab burger whose presentation will impress the pants off you before you’ve even taken a bite. Also the cassava fries. And the green tea noodle salad. And… look, just sit there all afternoon and order round after round. After which you can roll out of there knowing there’s nothing else you need to do for your day to feel complete.
Drinks before dinner
The balcony at KAUM restaurant is a serene and stunningly-landscaped little terrace above the crowds at Potato Head, serving beautiful cocktails with local twists such as lemongrass and cinnamon infused spirits. If you fancy a little something to wash down with those cocktails the Gohu Ikan Tuna is the best ceviche you’ll ever have. There would be no harm in refusing the temptation to traipse around town to other food spots and just eat dinner here. Hands down the most gorgeous Indonesian food served in salubrious surrounds.
Cocktails with kids
THE LAWN sits directly on the beach in Canggu with an infinity pool bleeding onto the sand and a huge lawn (no surprises there). A perfect spot for the kids to run around while parents enjoy a coconut mojito (made with coconut water and served in a coconut - practically healthy) and don’t miss the babi guling sliders with chilli caramel and apple slaw.
Dinner for epicureans
To say anything about MEJEKAWI is almost to ruin the experience. In the hands of super-talented chef Ben Cross, this is our favourite restaurant in coastal Bali - full stop.
Drink for no reason, day or night
Coconut daiquiris at Saigon Street; all the calories of a full meal and the only drink worth skipping dinner for.
Shop Stop
Gals - pop into ET CLUB in Seminyak for jaunty sandals that feel like a party on your feet. Guys - after that long lunch at The Slow, skip next door to NON-TYPE to pick up every item of clothing you’ll need to look good for the rest of the year - the lovechild of design-legacies Garreth Moody and George Gorrow, this gear makes every man look appropriately (rather than desperately) cool.
But wherever you are and whatever you might be doing this Easter, indulge and enjoy!
]]>Before the day of Silence swept across the Island, we hosted a warm gathering of friends and patrons to introduce the phenomenal Spanish designer, Celia B.
The event was held against the evening rain showers that had only moments ago cooled down the Bali streets.
Celia is devoted to sourcing colourful printed textiles from all over the world that not only have cultural significance but make you happy with their vivacity and the understanding that they are unique one-off pieces made with love, not en masse. The kaleidoscope of colour and explorative motifs made them an instant favorite - SOUQ was abuzz with bright and gleeful conversation about the extraordinary pieces.
It was very special to have Celia with us as she talked to everyone about her collection and design methods as well as sharing her bold styling tips. And thanks to the culinary expertise of the SOUQ kitchen we all enjoyed giant green Sicilian olives marinated in orange and parsley, crostini with parmesan mousse and slow-roasted organic tomatoes and triangles of our famous leek tarts. Coupled with campari, rosemary and aranciatta rosso cocktails and spiced rum, lime and coconut punch, the evening was scintillating for all the senses.
Watch this space as we host future events to showcase extraordinary and unique talent from across the globe.
]]>She pushes boundaries and revolutionizes attitudes towards fashion, breaking the mold and celebrating an international essence that is inline with the artisanal spirit of SOUQ.
We hope you enjoy this addition to the SOUQ family of brands and look forward to introducing you to more international artistes.
]]>CeliaB is a Spanish brand founded in 2012 with a robust passion for textiles, craftsmanship and a strong commitment to sustainability.
About Celia Bernardo
Celia Bernardo is the founder, heart and soul of the brand. With a love for vibrant color, complicated knitting and the ability to create beauty from chaos and clash, she is on a mission to bring laughter and pleasure to all who wear her creations.
Celia’s designs showcase inspiration stemming from her travels across the globe, from stripes seen in Rajasthan to batiks from Indonesia. Her use of traditional motifs seamlessly blends with exaggerated textures and bold bursts of print and color.
Celia has worked for brands like Zara, Pepe Jeans and Asobio. But her love of travel and the weird and wonderful possibilities of color, wool and contradiction meant that the fast fashion industry couldn't hold on to her forever. In 2012, Celia B struck out on her own and started to make pieces for herself. Channeling her love for travel and her passion for handcrafted pieces, she collects textiles, patterns and inspiration from all over the world; from the jungles and beaches of Latin America to Moroccan medinas.
She firmly believes in empowering people to feel special and unique by creating timeless, fun and unusual designs that transmit to those wearing them; a spirit of uniqueness and freedom that goes beyond fashion trends. Focusing instead on the importance of the relationship you build with the clothes you wear, what you communicate to others through your attire, and last but not least, how it makes you feel. By doing this Celia creates a cultural and emotional connection with the final owner of her pieces.
Her focus on making high quality garments will make you instantly fall in love, because they do have that cultural and artistic link, with a longer and happier life than those made en masse. Reducing the amount of clothes we buy every season, will have a better impact in the production and consumption cycle, creating less of an ecological impact and forces the overall industry to implement fairer practices in production.
She pushes boundaries and revolutionizes attitudes towards fashion, breaking the mold and celebrating an international essence that is inline with the artisanal spirit of SOUQ.
We hope you enjoy this addition to the SOUQ family of brands and look forward to introducing you to more international artistes.
- CELIA B is exclusively available in store at SOUQ -
]]>Between them, Sophie & Peter have spent 50 years living, working and travelling in Asia. Their exploration of the far-reaches of the continent have revealed beautiful traditional techniques and design that are unrepresented in commercial contexts.
]]>Between them, Sophie & Peter have spent 50 years living, working and travelling in Asia. Their exploration of the far-reaches of the continent have revealed beautiful traditional techniques and design that are unrepresented in commercial contexts.
With Peter’s background in design and Sophie’s eye for aesthetics, the idea for SOUQ was conceived to bring to the market original design that has it roots in traditional craft.
Combining old-world crafts and materials with avant-garde design, SOUQ creates a new sophisticated style that is at once traditional and at the same time modern. In working with local artisans from remote and inspiring cultures, SOUQ gives the global market access to the uniqueness of these traditions that might otherwise remain unseen.
And in doing so, provides a livelihood that enables them to keep their traditional skills and culture alive for future generations.
We understand the hard work and love that goes into creation so we do not condone copying and whole-heartedly believe in the integrity of design.
From the original design of our collections to the ethical means by which our fruits, vegetables and meats are sourced for our café, SOUQ is built around uncompromised integrity and ingenuity.
We believe so strongly in these concepts that we personally identify, evaluate, and select each of SOUQ’s suppliers and materials. From winding road trips into the mountains of Java to long days enduring the harsh, dry climate of Mongolia, SOUQ is powered by passion, creativity and conscience.
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