indigohome

A Photographer Inspired to Take Action

By:  Morgan Hawkins

 

    For those of you who are a part of the Maui community or have visited the North Shore in the past six months, you may have seen striking photographs from the Omo Valley of Ethiopia taken by Indigo's owner, Daniel Sullivan.  Walking into Cafe Mambo, back in the early Spring, was like stepping through a portal, which swept guests away to another part of the world.    For a month, Daniel's photographs of tribesmen and women, exotically painted and adorned in beads made from raw, natural materials, decorated the cafe's festively painted walls. 

    Daniel's Omo Valley collection is characteristic of his other portraits, which have been taken around the world in places such as India and Central Asia.  His portraits capture the spirit or essence of each person and place; they create a feeling of intimacy like the observer just shared a moment or experience with the person photographed.

    Even though Daniel continues to capture the human spirit in photograph, this most recent journey and project is markedly different. He has taken a special interest in his work with the tribes of the Omo Valley.  He is in the process of creating something far-reaching and profound by  introducing some of the most remote tribes in the world and their plight to the global community.

    By the end of 2011, a hydroelectric dam will be completed and the Omo river, a life line for the people and animals of the Omo Valley, will be cut off.  Daniel, in order to generate awareness and to document the tribes before their way of life is forever altered, has been working to self publish a photography book, which will include an audio CD that captures the songs and sounds of the Omo Valley.  In order to self publish his book, he has created a video and essay on kickstarter.com to raise funds for his project.  Check out the following video for details about his project and to get a sneak preview of his journey through the Omo Valley.  If you would like to contribute to the cause, join the kickstarter campaign at http://kck.st/ps71ci.

 

 

Tribes of the Omo River

Aloha! I'm writing to tell you about my kickstarter project. As most of you know, last year I traveled to Southern Ethiopia to photograph the Omo River Tribes. Now, I am making a book of my work and using Kickstarter to raise funds to self publish it.  If you have never heard of Kickstarter it works like this... Click on this link, Tribes of the Omo River, and watch my video that explains the project, then pledge...any amount helps and its all or nothing- if I don't reach my goal-your not charged-  If I do, I publish the book! The right side of the Kickstarter page shows the pledge amounts and Rewards... wait...rewards, yes! You are basically buying my book, prints, cool gifts at a super discounted price. Exciting! So if you think you might want a book at anytime, or have a friend (they make great gifts!) that would want one, then buy it now, its discounted and they might never get made if you don't :( If your strapped for cash, show your support by pledging $10, every bit helps! Like the project, but can't pledge- please consider passing it on to your friends, co-workers-mothers, fathers, anyone who might be interested. Thanks for your support! Aloha from Maui, Daniel  Please share this link on Kickstarter with all your friends,  http://kck.st/ps7lci

 

Bengali Bliss

By:  Morgan Hawkins

     It's finally here! The long-awaited container from India has arrived with one-of- a-kind home furnishings and textile designs by Indigo's owners, Daniel Sullivan and Cara Miya Davies-Reid. Indigo is blooming with explosive color; the colors and textures will dazzle your senses and help preserve the memory of spring and summer through the coming seasons. Some of the most impressive quilts, furnishings and accessories have been created from antique, cotton, Bengali quilts. Daniel sorted through a thousand antique quilts from Northern India to bring you this stunning collection. The quilts, pictured below, were block printed with natural dyes and hand-stitched by a women's group in Northern India.

      

  Indigo also offers a wide selection of block printed, Bengali pillow cases made from the reclaimed quilts. They are available in 16'x16' throw pillows and Euro shams.

 

     Pictured below is an over-the-shoulder bag and clutch purse designed by Daniel and Cara. The bag and clutch are made from reclaimed, antique Bengali textiles. Each purse from Indigo's collection is unique and offers styles ranging from tribal prints to classic floral motifs. The bags and clutches provide interior, zippered pockets and outer zippered closures. Depending upon the chosen print, these bags can be used as every-day casual totes or can add a nice accent and convenience to an ensemble for an evening outing on Maui.

 

    The Bengali bliss also extends to home furnishings. It is easy to create the perfect, romantic, cozy nook with these pouffes and chowkies made from the soft, cotton quilts. The chowkies, or small stools, have a beautiful mango wood base.

 

 

     If you don't have a chance to come by and see our collection in person, you can get blissed out on Bengalis by checking out our on-line store. Just go to the homepage of our website, indigopaia.com, and select the link, “online store.”