Former British Vogue Stylist Pippa Holt has collaborated with a community of weavers in Mexico to create a line of  handwoven belts to wear with the kaftans.
Originating in a town called Santo Tomás Jalieza, known as the ‘belt town’, this group has been making belts for many years in techniques passed down from their ancestors. The colourful pieces are handwoven in cotton on a backstrap loom. Master weaver, Abigail, weaves the finest and most intricate of patterns on small looms on her well lit patio. Her work has won national awards.
This is a pre-Hispanic technique that continues to be used without major changes over the centuries. The complexity of the work that can be created on this loom is limited only by the skill of the weaver. The entire loom with the weaving in progress can be rolled up at any time and carried from place to place.
The belts feature depictions of sacred animals, geometry, feather dancers and the animals and plants they see in their daily life, which is interwoven with fine cotton in vibrant details.
The technique of using a backstrap loom consists of securing an end of the loom to a tree or post and the other end to the waist of the weaver, maintaining the tension with the weight of the body, the women sit on straw mats, feet folded, wide leather belts sit on their lower backs, providing hand placement that is conducive to the creation of sophisticated patterns.
* Each belt comes in a handmade clutch bag made from palms.

Stylist Pippa Holt launched her eponymous line of luxury, hand-crafted kaftans in 2016, celebrating her love of fashion design, textiles, far-flung travel and beautiful, original holiday attire.

Pippa Holt Kaftans

Belt No.91

Title

Former British Vogue Stylist Pippa Holt has collaborated with a community of weavers in Mexico to create a line of handwoven belts to wear with the kaftans. Originating in a town called Santo Tomás Jalieza, known as the ‘belt town’, this group has been making belts for many years in techniques passed down from their ancestors. The colourful pieces are handwoven in cotton on a backstrap loom. Master weaver, Abigail, weaves the finest and most intricate of patterns on small looms on her well lit patio. Her work has won national awards. This is a pre-Hispanic technique that continues to be used without major changes over the centuries. The complexity of the work that can be created on this loom is limited only by the skill of the weaver. The entire loom with the weaving in progress can be rolled up at any time and carried from place to place. The belts feature depictions of sacred animals, geometry, feather dancers and the animals and plants they see in their daily life, which is interwoven with fine cotton in vibrant details. The technique of using a backstrap loom consists of securing an end of the loom to a tree or post and the other end to the waist of the weaver, maintaining the tension with the weight of the body, the women sit on straw mats, feet folded, wide leather belts sit on their lower backs, providing hand placement that is conducive to the creation of sophisticated patterns. * Each belt comes in a handmade clutch bag made from palms.

Belt No.70

Pippa Holt's artisanal coverups look just as chic in the city as they do on vacation. With its bold, woven motifs in dark pink and magenta, No.71 an up-lifting kaftan to wear. It has a fresh appeal and works well styled with gold accessories.

Kaftan No.71

Handmade in rich purple cotton, this statement-making piece makes a chic addition to any summer wardrobe. Its upbeat colour palette, with pretty multi-coloured motifs, makes it a sophisticated piece with a feel of the far flung. No.50 works well teamed with coloured sandals for a poolside look that exudes effortless chic.

Kaftan No.50

Single panel ‘supermini’ kaftan in neon yellow and white stripe with black design.

Kaftan No.263

Belt No.11

Former British VOGUE stylist Pippa Holt works with artisans to create handmade kaftans using traditional techniques. This children's version of the classic red cotton kaftan is hand-woven on a backstrap loom and decorated with a white geometric motif, adding a bohemian feel.

Children's Kaftan No.2

Size

Three panel super mini in denim with white motif

Kaftan No.302

Pippa Holt’s new khaki on khaki single panel mini kaftan takes one month to weave by hand. The most versatile piece to date, it can go from sidewalk to sands with ease and versatility. Strengthen the look with black leather accessories.

Kaftan No.226

Pippa Holt Kaftans are ‘holiday heroes’. “They pack small, work day and night, on a beach, in a city, with or without a belt," Pippa explains. Handmade by artisan weavers, No.123 is woven from pink and olive threads that have been naturally dyed using pigments from vegetables and flowers.

Kaftan No.123

Pippa Holt’s ‘Supermini’ kaftan is pink perfection. Hand-woven by Mexican artisans in a shocking shade of pink, its classic single panel design is embroidered with geometric motifs inspired by the natural life of Mexican culture. The mini version of Kaftan No.41, slip this on with lace-up sandals and a wide-brimmed straw hat.

Kaftan No.111

A Pippa Holt staple, Kaftan No.24 is the ultimate 'throw-on-and-go' piece. Its classic white cotton base is handwoven by skilled Mexican artisans with traditional purple motifs. The dye used for the thread was created using natural pigments and processes, traditional to the weavers area.

Kaftan No.24

Single panel midi kaftan in black with back motifs.

Kaftan No.258

Three panel midi kaftan in blue and white tie dye design.

Kaftan No.335

Belt No.105

Three panel midi kaftan in white with neon multicoloured design.

Kaftan No.307

Belt No.106

Belt No.33

Three panel maxi kaftan in green with purple design.
Approximately 89 cm wide x 130 cm long.

Kaftan No.257

Kaftan No.220

Drawing inspiration from Pippa Holt’s grandmother's love of tropical dressing, this watermelon pink midi kaftan is full of flavour. Hand-woven from a single panel, its naturally dyed cotton base is intricately embroidered with duck egg blue motifs. A single panel version of the much-loved kaftan No.110, keep this kaftan in focus with neutral accessories.

Kaftan No.119

A bold staple, Kaftan No.149 is woven in a unique shade of mustard yellow and peppered with pale blue motifs. Woven on a backstrap loom to a single panel midi silhouette, this style can be worn loose on the sandy shores, or cinched at the waist with a leather belt for a more urban feel.

Kaftan No.149

Belt No.61

Belt No.76

Pippa Holt's kaftans are handmade in collaboration with artisan weavers on a traditional backstrap loom - each piece takes one month to complete. This children's style features chic, wide hot pink stripes and is an uplifting 'classic' in the main collection.

Children's Kaftan No.57

Belt No.48

Belt No.23

Pippa Holt grew up on the beaches of Australia and was inspired by her grandmother's style of tropical dressing. The pastel pink No.55 features sublime zig zag detailing on the shoulders and candy coloured motifs. Naturally dyed cotton thread is woven into cloth using a backstrap loom, an ancient weaving technique that has been used by generations in this Mexican community of artisans.

Kaftan No.55

Belt No.93

With ease, style and versatility in mind, Pippa Holt works with experienced artisans to create handmade, organic cotton kaftans.  Featuring brightly coloured woven motifs on a pale blue base, No.190 exudes contemporary, fresh far-flung luxury. The midi-length lends itself to versatile styling: wear cinched at the waist with a brightly coloured belt from the collection or loose for effortless appeal.