This is a patchwork coaster made from fabric of the Loo ethnic minority in northern Laos. Material: 100% cotton Size: Approximately 12cm Loo Cotton Fabric Both the warp and weft threads are hand-spun, and the fabric is naturally dyed with plant-based dyes, indigo-dyed, pre-dyed (yarn-dyed), and hand-woven, reflecting the traditional texture of Laos. This product is sold and shipped by Hattakam. Hattakam means "handicraft" or "craft" in Lao. In Laos, blessed with nature, knitting and weaving have flourished since ancient times. These diverse techniques have been passed down to the present day, even as they have been influenced by the changing times. ＜Hattakam's Goals＞ ・To introduce Laos, my home country, to Japan through our products. ・To be a bridge between Japan and Laos. ・To preserve the handicrafts and their techniques and culture that have existed in Laos since ancient times, such as silk and cotton weaving, and bamboo and rattan knitting. ＜The Story of Lao Cotton Fabric＞ We plant cotton trees ourselves and spin the yarn from the cotton by hand. The thickness of the yarn is determined by the fingertips of the spinners. There are thin parts and thick parts. When this yarn is used for weaving, it creates a thick, rustic fabric texture. Traditional Lao dyeing often involves pre-dyeing. Instead of dyeing the fabric, the basic method of making Lao fabric is to dye the unbleached yarn. We grow indigo and build the indigo vat. We dye the yarn one bundle at a time. It is dyed a light blue at first, and as the number of dyeings increases, it becomes closer to black. Dark colors are dyed, washed, and repeated many times. It's a difficult process. Of course, the yarn dyeing is done by hand. And then there's hand-weaving, which takes at least a week to prepare the warp threads. We prepare the warp threads for 20-30m of fabric at a time. Lao fabric is not the width of a kimono obi, but about 80cm wide. It is also a difficult task to pass the weft threads from left to right across this width. Of course, it is hand-woven. This indigo-dyed fabric is made with the combined effort and love of three artisans: ① hand-spinners, ② hand-dyers, and ③ hand-weavers. Please understand that there may be some fraying or distortion due to the handmade nature of the product.