Kaftan No.176

Three panel 'Special Edition' maxi kaftan in lilac with people rainbow design.

Regular price €968

Handwoven in weighty lilac and white striped cotton, with multi-coloured woven 'people' motifs, this maxi length limited-edition kaftan makes a unique addition to any summer wardrobe. Based on the midi version of No.66, No.176 takes over two months to make. A true collectors item, the process is explained here in detail by artisan Yuridia who created the piece:

“Only very skilled artisans are able to weave this kaftan. The necklines represent the spine of a snake that appears after the rain. The sacred snake represents the rainbow therefore the spine is a rainbow forming the shoulders of the kaftan. No.176 is made with finer thread than other kaftans, so the artisans need to weave with more strength to give the kaftan the thick structure and durability. Each weaver measures out the number of warp threads needed. In this fine striped kaftan the lines they need to count from two to two the threads to make the finest lines; they intercalculate the white and the purple thread until they make 295 pairs of threads. Typically a regular kaftan has the lines 8 threads wide. The motifs are placed in the neckline of the kaftan with no space between them, therefore just very dedicated weavers are able to weave kaftan No.176”.

*Just a handful of Kaftan No.176 are available.

Pippa Holt's editorial background as a stylist at British Vogue, a degree in fashion design combined with her love of travel is very much evident in her collection. Growing up on the beaches of Australia, she was inspired by her grandmother's style of tropical dressing at her seaside holiday home on The Great Barrier Reef Stylist Pippa Holt launched her eponymous line of kaftans which celebrates her love of indigenous textiles, far-flung travel and beautiful, original attire after finding nothing to wear in the searing heat while living in Houston.

Pippa says: "I love the authenticity of these kaftans and how comfortable they are to wear. I call them my 'Holiday Heroes'. They pack small, work day and night on a beach, in a city, with or without a belt. They are incredibly versatile. These kaftans are light, practical and yet stylish and reminiscent of far flung shores. In many ways I was collaborating on a collection which recreated that sense of freedom of dressing that I had so adored in Australia. The colours were original and unique and filled me with so much joy.”

Each kaftan takes one month to make and four to five days to sew its panels. Due to the way they are hand-crafted, no two are the same. Pippa has collaborated with Felipa, a head weaver in a remote village in Mexico who has over 50 years of experience. Along with her daughter, Angelica and a group of artisans, they create one off pieces following age-old traditions.

+ Size & Fit Information