There's nothing like an evening walk on the beach to clear your mind—the stars sparkling in the sky, the smell of the salty ocean, and the feeling of cold damp sand under your feet, reminding you that the things that ground you and give you purpose are all around you, up above and below.
As an artist and traditional kapa-maker, Lehuauakea (Native Hawaiian) has created their Above and Below Wool Blanket to reflect the ancestral patterns found on kapa (barkcloth)—a non-woven textile from the beaten bark of trees that is either left plain or decorated with natural dyes and pigments.
At the center of their blanket, Lehuauakea uses a pattern to symbolize the guidance offered by those who have passed on before us. Two traditional patterns known as pewa (the lines of 'dovetail' shapes) and niho manō (the triangles), surround the heart of their design, representing spiritual and ancestral protection, mending, repairing, and connection. The sides of their blanket highlights a motif honoring the life-giving waters that surround us in the form of oceans, rivers, and rains. In beautiful shades of burnt orange and auburn red, Lehuauakea has woven even more meaning into their blanket by including the traditional colors found in the ochre pigments that are often used to decorate finished kapa.
Wrap yourself in their Above and Below Wool Blanket to feel grounded and rooted in your relationship with your ancestors, culture, and the land. For Lehuauakea, being a traditional kapa-maker has created a deep sense of belonging and groundedness from both above and below—their connection to the earth, carrying their ancestors' protection, and remembering the community they're surrounded by. With this blanket, their wish is to help people return home to themselves through their own connections from above and below.
"I hope that folks feel held and grounded in ways that feel important or meaningful to them. In my culture we believe that there are multiple layers of meaning embedded within the things we do, speak, and create. We call this "kaona." So other folks, even those outside of my culture, might look at this blanket and see something totally different than the meanings I see, and that's completely okay with me, because pattern is universal and there are a lot of overlaps to the motifs that different cultures use to represent different things," shares Lehuauakea.
- 2-sided design
- Covers top of queen size bed (59 in x 78 in/ 200 cm x 150 cm)
- Microsuede edge band
- 100% wool pile; 100% polyester warp
- Designed by Lehuauakea (Native Hawaiian)
- Imported
- Dry clean
Thank you for supporting Inspired Natives®, not "Native-inspired."
Product Care:
- Recommended care is dry clean only; however, you can rinse your blanket on a gentle, cold setting and hang-dry away from direct sunlight
- Clean liquid stains immediately with warm water and mild detergent
- Never use harsh chemicals or scrub wool
- Store blanket away from direct sunlight
