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.32

Title

Belt No.16

Belt No.5

The new concept of a ‘denim’ kaftan for SS18 has been extended to the children's line. The blue is contrasted with white zig zag motifs. Naturally dyed cotton thread, woven into cloth using a backstrap loom, gives this particular kaftan a linen-like soft feel.

Children's Kaftan No.51

Size

Pippa Holt works with artisans to create handmade kaftans using traditional techniques. The kaftans are created with ease and versatility in mind - "they pack small, work day and night, on a beach, in a city, with or without a belt," she explains. The orange and white striped base cloth of No.43, mixed with bold blue motifs, displays the weavers’ strong sense of colour perfectly.

Kaftan No.43

Pippa Holt collaborates with artisans to create handmade cotton kaftans with ease and versatility in mind - "they pack small, work day and night, on a beach, in a city, with or without a belt," she explains. Woven for a loose fit, this pink and white striped style is peppered with dark purple motifs. The maxi version works well left loose, cinched with a belt on the waist or fastened on the hips for a more bohemian feel. Just add sandals and sunkissed skin.

Kaftan No.94

Pippa Holt's kaftans are handcrafted by artisans using traditional methods and take one month to make. This versatile, easy to wear piece, which sits just above the knee is the perfect holiday cover up. Its coffee colour stripes is intricately woven with the traditional 'people' motif in bold and beautiful shades of pink, green and orange.

Kaftan No.19

Pippa Holt kaftans are handmade by artisan weavers on a traditional backstrap loom. Each piece takes up to one month to complete. The Mexican ‘people’ design is a recurring theme in this lilac style and symbolising family, love, unity as well as being inspired by the local flora and fauna. No.56 is the mini version of the much loved kaftan No.10.

Kaftan No.56

Pippa Holt describes the kaftans as ‘holiday heroes’. “They pack small, work day and night, on a beach, in a city, with or without a belt," she explains. Handmade by artisan weavers, No.83’s brigh aqua colour makes it a versatile choice. The colours of the threads are dyed from natural processes using vegetables and flowers. Works well styled with white sandals.

Kaftan No.83

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.

Kaftan No.266

Pippa Holt collaborates with artisans to make kaftans that are handmade using traditional techniques. This mini style is a versatile, easy-to-move-around in version, which falls to just above the knee and makes a fun alternative to longer length styles. The colourful 'people' motif on the pale brown, striped base are symbolic in this traditional Mexican community of weavers of family, love and unity.

Kaftan No.20

The traditional Mexican craft element is very evident in this single panel, midi-length kaftan in white with purple and red large motifs. It’s a kaftan which works well with natural coloured accessories such as straw baskets and hats as well as pristine white shoes.

Kaftan No.6

One of Holt’s favourite kaftans to wear in the city, this red and white single panel style works well teamed with black accessories for an urban look or white accessories for the beach. The hand crafted white stitching exudes a relaxed, bohemian feel.

Kaftan No.2

The traditional Mexican ‘people’ design is a recurring theme in this lilac maxi kaftan and representing family, love, unity as well as being inspired by the local flora and fauna. No.36 is a longer and wider version of much loved kaftan No.10.

Kaftan No.36

Woven on a backstrap loom, this white cotton kaftan is carefully decorated with an array of blue motifs - no two are the same. The simplicity of this azure and white style is Grecian in feel. Its clean lines and calming colour palette make it a natural wardrobe staple and a versatile piece to wear during hot summer months. Perfect styled with white accessories.

Kaftan No.5

Handmade by artisan weavers this three-panelled style is part of the ‘denim’ collection. No.52 is the quintessential vacation staple. Holt says: “It’s very simple. Hand crafted in the prettiest denim blue - it makes a great neutral.”

Kaftan No.52

Pippa Holt's eponymous range of kaftans celebrates her love of indigenous textiles, far-flung travel and beautiful, original attire. This limited-edition kaftan features rare threads dyed with a combination of two plants; indigo for the pink and 'pericon' for the unique khaki. The equally rare motifs depict an eagle with two heads, representing the remote town in which the Kaftan is crafted. An extremely limited and cherished style in the collection.

Kaftan No.150

With its blue and white stripe background, this is a bold, statement-making kaftan. Its oversized shape allows it to be cinched at the waist or left loose. As chic a look worn to a party with heels as it is when worn with bare feet on the beach, conferring a rakish elegance. The multi-coloured woven symbols represent ‘family, love and unity’ in this traditional Mexican community of weavers.

Kaftan No.31

The age old Mexican ‘people’ design is a recurring theme in the children's version of the much loved No.10. The symbols represent family, love, unity as well as being inspired by the local flora and fauna.

Children's Kaftan No.10

Pippa Holt's artisanal coverups look just as chic in the city as they do on vacation. With its bold, woven motifs in bright pops of yellow and turquoise, No.16 is a zingy addition to the collection. Marigold flowers are responsible for the yellow threads which are gathered in the mountains above the village where they are woven. Cotton threads are added to a vat of boiling water and how long they are left in is determined by the intensity of the colour that is required.

Kaftan No.16

Pippa Holt’s handmade cotton kaftans symbolise ease and versatility - "they pack small, work day and night, on a beach, in a city, with or without a belt," she explains. Cut for a loose fit, this purple striped style has vibrant multi-coloured motifs. Slip it on over your bikini for trips to the market or a poolside lunch.
Wild Marigold flowers are used for the yellow threads whereby they are soaked in boiling water. How long the threads are soaked for is determined by the intensity of the colour that is required.

Kaftan No.21

Pippa Holt’s kaftans are handmade by artisan weavers on a traditional backstrap loom – each piece takes up to one month to complete. No.82 is a popular Supermini choice and for good reason: its pretty and bold pink colour combination creates a striking vacation look. Just add sunkissed skin and great summer accessories.

Kaftan No.82

Pippa Holt grew up on the beaches of Australia and was inspired by her grandmother's style of dressing for the tropics. The craft element is very evident in this three panel, mini-length kaftan. It’s a style which works well with natural coloured accessories such as straw baskets and hats, as well as black accessories to add an urban edge.

Kaftan No.108

Woven from white cotton with pretty pink stripes, this three-panel style falls to a flattering point below your knee and is intricately covered with blue thread in a geometric pattern. Each panel is stitched with matching blue thread by hand, which takes up to four days to complete. Best left loose, but if you prefer a more defined shape this piece looks chic belted too.

Kaftan No.61

Handwoven by Guelasia, an experienced Mexican artisan, Kaftan No.136 features a fresh white base adorned with a multi-coloured 'people' motif. This traditional Mexican ‘people’ design is a recurring theme; the symbols represent family, love and unity.

Kaftan No.136

Size: Approximately 59 cm wide x 90 cm long.

Kaftan No.251

Belt No.2

Pippa Holt's kaftans are handmade by artisan weavers on a traditional backstrap loom - each piece takes one month to complete. This monochrome design is a favourite of Fashions Editors’ globally — wearing it belted to work with the long, fringed hem skimming the ankles. The black hue works equally well in the city during cooler months with a turtle-neck or shirt underneath.

Kaftan No.60

Pippa Holt works with Mexican artisans to create handmade kaftans using traditional techniques. With its monochrome stripe background, this is a statement-making kaftan. Its oversized shape and maxi length allows it to be cinched at the waist or left loose. As chic a look worn to a party with heels as it is when worn with bare feet on the beach.

Kaftan No.40

Pippa describes the artisans’ kaftans as "holiday heroes". The multi-coloured and much loved No.22 is typical of the artisans work from this village. This vibrant kaftan displays their brilliant sense of colour perfectly. The red contrasting hand stitching makes a striking feature. It takes four days to complete the panel stitching on this kaftan - everything is done by hand and often by the men in this remote Mexican community who are drafted into to help.