A Mission Statement Focused on Sustainability

Happy New Year! 1 World Sarongs is 15 years old this year! We are proud to say, in 2013 and 2014 we had a healthy increase in our business, we introduced many new products successfully and our customers continue to praise us for our great service and the value we provide to them. We believe that it's a good practice to look back at where we have been and where we are going.

We have been thinking about our mission of creating sustainable businesses. We strongly believe that together with our combined ideas, energy and actions - we can have a much greater effect on our mission! Every day we ask ourselves - How do we be Earth friendly and people friendly and have fun doing it?

Our mission statement is to create a sustainable business by focusing on these points:

• Be gentle on earth - what is our impact/ footprint on our planet? 
• Utilize technology - print only if necessary, so no printed catalog or printed materials – internet only
• Recycling materials - create uses for excess material
• Use less material - maximize fabric cutting
• Efficient shipping methods - sea cargo verse air cargo
• Earth Friendly - create and source products that are Earth friendly and renewable (coconut, bamboo, etc)
• Donate to charities such as Union of Concerned Scientist, The Amazon Foundation, American Red Cross and the Rotary and Oceana, etc.
• Create a product that benefits a certain cause
• People Friendly
• Fair wages / Fair trade
• Healthy working environments
• Support educational programs
• Give back to the community by getting involved with causes that help local communities 
• Get involved with beach clean-ups
• Art Friendly - music, dance
• Supporting and respecting cultural traditions - Create and source handmade items like batik, embroidery, beading, tie dye, fringing, hand screen printing, hand dyed etc. 

So let's think about:

1.    How do we contribute to the solution of creating a better world and yet maintain and increase our living standard?

2.    What are the problems and solutions?

3.    How do we create value that is long lasting?

4.    How do we create relationships that have meaning and provide growth and value?

5.    How do we make it better for all that are involved?

6.    Who has a thought, idea or suggestion on how to accomplish our mission?

As we once heard, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. We truly believe we can make a big difference together. All ideas, thoughts and comments are very much appreciated! We're always happy to hear from you and so you can drop us an email.

Thanks for reading!

With love & peace,

1 World Family

Batik Talk: The Spirit of America in the Heritage of Batik

~ Art is seen as a part of life and it's important to appreciate the feeling of Indonesia that is manifested through Batik ~

What is Batik? And what happens when Indonesian heritage of Batik meets American contemporary art? This fascinating video made by The Embassy and Indonesian Societies in Washington DC showcases the cultural fusion of Indonesian Batik culture and American modern designs. "The media of Batik is of great interest as an object of cultural collaboration", says artist Agus Ismoyo.

We are in the age of modernization where technology becomes a part of Batik. How does it affect the final product? These days, Batik designs are being created digitally and computers are used to form electronic designs. Following the history of Batik, a batik painter would typically hand draw & paint on a big white fabric in free motion. The question is - how would electronic designs be adapted into the natural process of Batik making?

The challenges for Batik production is to make sure that the art stays true to its aesthetics. When creating new sarong prints on a computer program, it's easy to have control over the designs according to taste, shape and color. The challenge for sarong makers is to emulate the exact design and colors from a digital artwork using a natural process. The technique of coloring on a piece of cloth is subjected to variables that are hard to manage in comparison to say, having color codes to key in from a universal color chart.

Watch this video to understand these challenges better and to enjoy the American contemporary designs in Batik form.

PS: Do check out our collection of hand painted sarongs and Batik sarongs!

Sarong Fabrics: Rayon, Cotton, Polyester or Silk: PART 2 COTTON

We've once talked about our first choice of fabric being rayon sarongs. Next, we want to talk about the most popular traditionally used sarong material – cotton fabric.  Various cultures in South East Asia used cotton sarongs also known as “Batik” for their traditional women attire known as “kebaya”. The combination of a "kebaya" top and batik sarongs are historically worn by women in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Burma, Singapore, southern Thailand, Cambodia and the southern part of the Philippines. 

Baba nyonya Kebaya traditional attire for women in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei (Image via Pinterest)

Kebaya style women seen in Bali culture (Image via Pinterest)

..before that, what is Cotton? Cotton is a white, natural fiber cultivated from the seeds of cotton plants, they are made in threads and used to make soft, breathable-like textile when it comes to fashion. 

Cotton plants (Image via agrodaily.com)

If you’re a big fan of soft, fluffy and comfy wraps, then cotton sarongs are perfect for you. And why would you choose cotton Sarong over other fabrics? Well, they make a great beach wrap if you like the exotic look and makes an ideal wrap for windy days at the beach. Batiks are handmade via batik stamp or hand stamp and so each batik sarong is a unique piece of its own! We feel that it makes a great picnic mat too, its durable fabric makes it easy to lay out in the sun and you can even get the whole family in because our traditional sarongs comes in a larger size of (74 x 42 inches) compared to our regular sarongs that are usually measured (66 x 44 inches).  

Traditional Batik Wraps by 1 World Sarongs

If you like to think out of the box, try using your cotton sarong for home ware such as curtain drapes, table cloth cover, bed throw and so much more. Have you ever thought about using your cotton sarong at home? That aside, we always feel that sarongs make a great travel companion because they are so reliable in all situations. We think that cotton sarongs would work great as your temporary travel bed sheet (soft on your skin!), a portable blanket (nice, thick and warm!) and a towel (the fabric absorbs water very well!).

Not to mention, cotton sarongs can be worn and used for all seasons – be it spring, summer, fall or winter! Some of customers use their cotton sarongs to wrap up their necks, head or shoulders for the cold season. Some even take it with them on date night at the movies when it gets chilly with air conditioning. Cotton is thick and solid enough to keep you warm than say polyester or rayon fabric.

By the way, have you ever wondered where does Cotton grow? Cotton is usually harvested in warm climates and some of the main producers in the world are countries like the U.S., Uzbekistan, China , India, Brazil, Pakistan and Turkey.

Image via thehindu.com

Fun Facts about Cotton:

• Absorbs up to 27 times its own weight in water
• Has a comfortable, soft hand
• Easy to wash
• Is durable and strong
• Conducts heat well
• Resists graze & chemicals impacts
• Resists pilling and moths
• Easy to handle and sew

How to care for your cotton sarong?

• Do not overexpose your cotton sarong under the sun for longer durability.
• Due to its low resiliency, after a quick wash, avoid squeezing it dry for fewer wrinkles on fabric.
• Keep your cotton sarong washed with the same color clothing to avoid color spill over.
• Do not use hot water, stick to cold wash

We also got a cool tip to share, how can you tell if our sarong is made of cotton or other fabric?Scrape the fabric with your finger nail and if the threads separate, then the fabric that you have might be low grade cotton or mixed material because good cotton sarongs won’t separate that easily.

Cotton sarong by 1 World Sarongs

In a nutshell, why do we use more of rayon sarongs than cotton fabric? Well, cotton as sarongs doesn't really drape as well as rayon and they are higher in cost and since we try to run our business with sustainable practices, we want to be efficient and would rather produce more with rayon material than cotton.  While cotton can be more durable and gives a feeling of breath-ability but in our experience, rayon seems to flow better on a body and have more breath-ability which makes it great for the tropical weather. Plus, it's allows us to offer you fair prices and good quality sarongs at the same time, which is why it’s our primary choice of sarong fabric. That doesn't mean we don't ADORE our cozy cotton sarongs though!

Up next, we’ll be talking about polyester sarongs in Part 3. Stay tuned and if you have any questions or feedback that might help us in our research, please leave us a comment below:

Peace & Love,

The 1 World Family

How to Wear a Sarong as a Scarf

Images via Pinterest

Do you like to wear your sarongs all year round? 

Seasons may change but sarongs are eternal. For this fall, learn how to turn your summer beach cover up to a head or neck wrap at the city. Sarong wraps are all about convenience and fashion depending on your personal style. We're all about creativity and so here are some ideas on how you can use a sarong or half sarong as a scarf:

Clothing - from Summer cover ups to Fall fashion

Did you know that your beach skirt or sarong dress can be a fashion statement? Try to mix and match any bright colorful sarong with solid colored clothing like black, white or blue jeans, throw it over your neck and wear it like a shawl:

Image via Pinterest

Thanks to the versatility of a sarong, it has the same function as a scarf where you can wear it as a sash, bandeau top or vest. As Coco Chanel once said, 'Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening'. We like to think of sarongs as a way of life and we have been observing how it has evolved in the Western world. Here's a cool idea on how you can tie a scarf as a vest: 

Flaunt your personality by wearing your favorite sarong as a bandeau scarf top, you can pair it with a high waist skirt or any pants or jeans along with sneakers or wedges, depending on your style and mood. Here's an inspiration for casual city wear: 

Image source. Get the look with our animal prints.

For those casual days or lazy weekends, you can stay fashionable even in your most comfortable outfit just by throwing your scarves over your shoulders and let it hang loose for that relaxed vibe:

Image source. Get the look with our scarves.

Breezy days - the best way to manage your hair

Easy, flattering and fashionable - there's no better way to keep your hair in place during the season. Last Summer we talked about different hairstyles with scarves to play around with. Fall is a wonderful time to jazz it up and see how you can pull off fresh hairstyles to fit a different climate. We like a woman who can pull off that retro style where you tie your hair back neatly with a little front volume. We recommend a silk or half sarong to get this vintage look:

Image source. Get the look here.

You can also get that bohemian look when you tie your sarong as a head turban. The more material you have, the more freedom to experiment with this style! Be it with a half or full sarong, it's a great excuse for those bad hair days and a great way to keep your scalp and ears warm for those windy days:

Image source. Find your favorite yellow wraps here.

Hand me down - wrapping your children with love

Did you ever want to see how adorable your kid would look in a little sarong skirt or dress? Some of our customers have been using our scarves or half sarong collection to wrap their children as they would for an adult because they make a perfect fit. Now that we have launched a collection of kids sarongs for your little ones, you can buy them their own sarong to use. More than just looking cute, sarong brings them a lot of happiness. Try it out with your children and let us know how they feel about it!

Image source

If you want more ideas, follow us on Pinterest or get connected with us on Facebook to get more updates and fashion inspiration on how you can put your sarongs to good use. Do you wear your sarong as a scarf and if so, what's your favorite style? 

Peace & Love,

The 1 World Family

6 Ways to Wear a Sarong as a Beach Cover Up

Since it's bikini and swimwear season, it's time to share a few quick ideas on how to cover up at the beach. As much as I like to flaunt my body, there are days when I'd like to stay modest and fashionable at the same time.

It's also common to be in situations where you want to feel comfortable by covering up. Maybe I ate too much pasta for lunch, call it post-holiday dips but we're all a little guilty of those extra snacks we'd sneak in while on vacation. You may even find yourself having to cover up when you're traveling on an island or resort within a conservative society where bikinis aren't really a norm. Maybe you took too much sun and protecting your skin from getting burnt calls for a much needed cover up around your shoulders or back. Or if you're a beach nudist fan then you'd know that you'd have to cover up until you get to a safe nude beach zone.

Whatever your reasons may be, here are my top 6 favorite ways cover up while I'm basking under the sun at the beach:

1)

An all time favorite classic Hawaiian look, it's become the most natural and easiest way for me to wrap up after a day at the beach. Just grab the two corner ends and tie them both into a double knot just below your navel. It's the best look on the days that I decide to get daring and wear a Brazilian style bikini!

2)

I like to cover up with a short skirt especially on a hot day out or when I spontaneously decide to go for a beach walk after lazing about on sand. The trick to get this look with a full sarong is by folding your cloth to half. Then grab both corner ends and tie it the same way as you do with a long wrap skirt. 

3)

Another easy and practical way to cover up especially when I want to show off my golden shoulders! Take both corner ends and tie a double knot in between your breasts or at either side. Make sure you fasten the knot tightly or you'll end up with a loose dress that falls off every time you move. Depending on the sarong design, I would accessorize (Sarong tie, necklace, earrings & wedges) and wear this for a casual outing.

4) 

Another classic favorite, I like this style because it stays on properly and drapes beautifully at the center and could almost pass off as a real dress. Take both corner ends, twist it at the front and then tie a double knot at the back of your neck.

5) 

Bringing sexy back - a new style that I recently discovered and adore because it's unique, flattering and fashionable! Hold out your sarong in a vertical position, take both ends of the top side and tie a double knot behind your neck so that it drapes around your chest. Then take both sides at waist level and tie a double knot just above your butt. This look is great because it could even pass off as a formal dress if you wore an inner piece like shorts.

6)

Another cool new look that works well for both normal or plus size sarongs. After all, the more material you have the more space you have to get creative. Wrap the sarong around your body horizontally like a towel, make sure both corner ends are positioned to the side of your body. Take both ends, cross over below your armpits. Bring the ends above your shoulders, fasten, twist it around and tie a double knot at the top of your shoulders.

These styles are a few ideas in a nutshell while there are actually so many more different ways to cover up at the beach. I think I'm about to hit the peak of my career as a sarong model with these pictures, haha. Wrapping up in a sarong is as fun as making home made tortillas! 

So.. what's your favorite way to wear a sarong?

xx

- Sandy B