#and the fact that sewing and embroidery is such a woman run craft

[screeching-lavender-sweater]

I hate when I’m reading a book and following the story of a powerful female character, but then she hates sewing

[conaionaru]

Honor and Blood (Ivar the Boneless)

Not all monsters do monstrous things

Synopsis: Vanya sees Ivar in a new light, makes up with Sigurd and gets an ominous revelation

Warning: Angst, forced marriage, mentions of rape, 

Tagged: 

@youbloodymadgenius @xbellaxcarolinax @heavenly1927

I don't own the gifs. Also, thank you for your support. I really appreciate it. 

In the morning, when Margrethe came to help her get dressed, Vanya knew what she wanted to wear. The blue dress she made two years ago for her father's name day. Blue had always been his favorite color, and now she understood the appeal.

The dark blue fabric complimented her figure. Silas, always said it was too provocative. But mother said that if she looks pretty, that he won't hurt her. Even if Ivar promised to protect her, it wouldn't hurt to secure her safety.

The thralls kept complimenting her as they did her hair. Margrethe especially looked pleased with how she looked. Vanya did not care for the reason behind as much as she should. She wanted to charm the youngest son of Ragnar.

So she left her room, working up as much confidence as she could. Yet the moment she entered the Great hall, all eyes turned on her, and she stopped. All confidence is gone and replaced with a blush on her cheeks. "Good morning." She greeted clearing her throat and walking to her designed spot next to Ivar.

All the boys looked at her, shocked. Her favorite reaction is Ivar, who stared at her as she was an angel. The other eyes made her a little bit squeamish especially when Hvitserk stopped eating with the spoon resting in his open mouth.

Aslaug looked at her proudly, which made her happy. Her goal may have been to charm her son, but she liked the Queen's attention too. She admired the woman's beauty and strength for raising so many sons alone.

"You look great this morning, Vanya." Ubbe complimented her, making her smile proudly.

"I agree, the dress is beautiful. Whoever did it knows the craft well." Aslaug smirked from behind her cup of mead.

Vanya returned the kind gesture with a smile of her own and twiddled with her fingers underneath the table. "Thank you very much, My Queen. I did it myself."

This surprised the older woman. She commented on how Vanya could make her a dress too. The young Princess, of course, agreed. Ivar still kept looking at her with wonder in his eyes. He wanted to take back his comment about sewing being tedious. The dress is anything but boring.

The brothers conversed between themselves during the meal in their language. They also kept giving Ivar meaningful glances, that Vanya had no idea what they meant.

After breakfast, the boys went hunting while Aslaug spent time with Vanya. The two talked about the upcoming wedding and what dress she should wear. The Queen of Kattegat had a lot of ideas. It was nice talking to her. It reminded her of the peasant girls talking to their mothers back home. She always wanted to have that with her mother.

But queen Sifflæd never spends much time with either of her children. She married her husband when she was 16 to save her kingdom from poverty. Back when they were kids, Silas mocked Vanya that their mother cared for him when he was a child. But she didn't bother to care for Vanya. Wet nurses and teachers raised them more than Sifflæd did.

No matter how much the Queen claimed to love her children, they both knew better. She was too angry at her husband to function. Too jealous of his mistresses to even play or speak to the fruits of her loins. It was easier to ignore them than him. And when king Osmond died, and Silas took over the throne, she was free to do as she pleased. She was still young and pretty, so finding a new husband was always an option. So she spent her time with her many suitors while Silas terrorized Vanya.

But Aslaug talks to her kindly, smiling and giving her advice on how to behave during the wedding. How to deal with Ivar and to tell her if he does something she doesn't like.

"Us women must help each other. We cannot survive in this world all alone." The Queen said with a stunning smile holding Vanya's hand in hers. The young ginger nodded, utterly agreeing with her.

They departed ways soon enough as Aslaug had things to do. So Vanya was left alone. She decided to spend some time outside on the bench outside the Great hall. A thrall bought out her sewing utensils as she continued working on embroidery on her last dress. It was a bunch of white flowers on the bottom part of a black dress.

Time flew by quickly as the princes returned from their hunt. They went to take a bath and didn't disturb her. All expect one. Sigurd stopped next to her when Ivar was out of sight and leaned against a support beam.

He watched her small fingers stab the needle into the dark fabric humming a tune to herself. "That is a pretty melody, Princess." Vanya jumped in her seat, her head snapping towards him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I wanted to talk to you."

Vanya looked at him confused but made space for him to sit on the bench. The prince sat down next to her and smiled at her, which was weird considering their last conversation. "I wanted to apologize for what I said. I tried to make Ivar angry and attacked you in the process. For that, I am sorry."

Vanya slowly nodded, mulling his words over. She wanted to ask why he wanted to insult Ivar in the first place, but decided against it. It was none of her business. "All is forgiven."

"That is good. I meant what I said. The melody was lovely." He seemed kind man now. So different from the man she met yesterday.

"Thank you. My wet nurse taught me that song. Do you know a lot about music?" The older man shrugged at that and looked back down on her embroidery.

"I play. But I would not say I know a lot about music. I guess we are both people of art." He kept complimenting her, and she had a sneaking suspicion that it was another way to anger Ivar. Or maybe he is genuinely interested in her work."I wanted to tell you that if Ivar hurts you, you can tell me."

"Your mother gave me the same offer. And I am very thankful for it. But if that happened... What would you do?" It should worry her that two people offered her protection from Ivar. But for some questionable reason, she didn't dwell on it.

There's no way the man who promised to protect her last night, would be the one to hurt her. He may have a temper. But maybe it's just a front. Everybody fears a dangerous man. It commands respect.

"I would make him stop. Mother would just scold him, and it would not stick. He is her favorite, after all. Men like Ivar aren't happy marriage material." Sigurd looked so sure of his statement it scared her.

"You make him sound like a monster." She said softly, hoping he would tell her that he is joking. Or he was trying to scare her. Anything but that Silas chose the devil himself for her husband.

"He is in my eyes." Again that certainty. It made her uneasy. She hated this man. No matter if he spoke the truth. Why didn't he just leave her to her dream of Ivar being a good future husband?

"Not all monsters do monstrous things. Some just pretend to be evil to be less vulnerable. He is supposed to be a fearless warrior; maybe he pretends to be this way."

"He is a Viking. But he isn't like the other warriors. He killed a child when he was four. He torments the slaves. He is not a good man. He seems to like you. So maybe he will try to act kindly around you. But only the gods know how long that would last."

Vanya nodded at the warnings that the fellow ginger gave her. She was so overwhelmed with how he looked that she judged him for his beauty. How could somebody so handsome be so rotten on the inside?

Sigurd left her side to clean himself. And so she was left alone with her dark thoughts. How naive was she? She dressed up for him in her father's favorite color because it reminded her of Ivar's eyes. She said she would judge him for herself and she decided too quickly.

What frightened her the most was the fact that she would be alone with him again tonight. He asked her to come. If she didn't, what would he do? She was terrified of all the possibilities of how it may go. He could hurt her, talk to her, the treatment her, make her like him, rape her...

Why did she not think of that? He didn't want to talk. He tried to win her trust yesterday. And today he would have her in his room, alone, with her guard down. He could bed her against her will.

She could call out to Sigurd and tell him what Ivar wanted. It could be a plan B. Her father always said to have one. It is safer that way. Trust no one, always be three steps ahead of your enemy, and don't let your guard down. Granted, he said it to Silas when he was teaching him strategies. But it could help her as well.

To her horror, it was already late. It was time for supper and a bath. And afterward, she would meet with Ivar. She looked down at the embroidery and frowned.

Vanya lifted her sewing needle to her eye level and watched the pointy object in concentration. Women must protect themselves from men. And a weapon means protection.

She slowly pressed her finger against the sharp tip and applied pressure. A bead of blood rolled down the metal and hit the dress on her lap. She flinched and pulled her finger away and stuck it in her mouth. It gave her an idea. She did not have access to a weapon. But she had needles. She could hide a big one in her dress. And if he tried anything, she would stab him with it. Then she would r run to Sigurd or Aslaug.

With her reduction made, she left the bench and returned to her chambers. She put away her work and went to the hall to eat.

[adriennemultiverse]

Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. In modern days, embroidery is usually seen on caps, hats, coats, blankets, dress shirts, denim, dresses, stockings, and golf shirts. Embroidery is available with a wide variety of thread or yarn colour. So me and in my eyes embroidery will always be the act of a woman, something that history claims women are created to do it was fashionable to be good at embroidery for a woman as it show that they were able to keep up their household. Some of the basic techniques or stitches of the earliest embroidery are chain stitch, buttonhole or blanket stitch, running stitch, satin stitch, cross stitch. Those stitches remain the fundamental techniques of hand embroidery today. Cross stitch is a technique that I have previously neatent in my lifetime however I haven't particularly from the patients be able to construct full designs. In embroidery I would like to further explore the idea of free hand stitching which is shown as an example above. I love the gentle flow and softness that the thread gives the floral design. The process used to tailor, patch, mend and reinforce cloth fostered the development of sewing techniques, and the decorative possibilities of sewing led to the art of embroidery. It is a striking fact that in the development of embroidery, there are no changes of materials or techniques which can be felt or interpreted as advances from a primitive to a later, more refined stage. On the other hand, we often find in early works a technical accomplishment and high standard of craftsmanship rarely attained in later times. Designing embroidery and cross stitch is my patience, of course like many things the beginning is slow to be able to perfect my technique I need to to not rush the process however for me I feel that the process takes too long and I don't see any progress in my work at least not enough for me to feel satisfied by the outcome. Furthermore I would still like to go on and and a tempt some more outcomes of embroidery and different styles that can be produced such as: Running Stitch, Back Stitch, Split Stitch, Stem Stitch, Satin Stitch, French Knot Stitch, Chain Stitch, Lazy Daisy Stitch, Feather Stitch, Seed Stitch.

This is the final product of the example above, I find it captures a sense of elegance and beauty in a significant way providing a sensible glow as it leans towards the light.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/854632819/digital-hand-embroidery-floral-flower?ref=shop_home_active_27&pro=1

Embroidery also links to the idea of faith because religions it states that the women should stay at home and look after the family when the men should work, when the women had nothing else to do they would use their spare time to embroid this would provide different layers for each member of the family to wear meaning that the woman is constantly looking after the household however the man provides, personally as a woman I don't believe this is the way that it should be however this is how people who have their faith and believe in this live.  

[floraexplorer]

Ethnotek Backpacks: The Company Preserving Traditional Textile Culture

Until 16th December, I’m running a giveaway for you to win your very own Ethnotek backpack! Keep reading to find out how to win…

I’m about to meet the founders of Ethnotek.

We’re approaching the entrance a little cafe just outside central Ubud when I see a distinctive backpack attached to a woman on a scooter. That’s how I know it’s Cori.

She turns, spots the matching backpack slung over my shoulder, and breaks into a wide smile.

“Flora! Hi!!”

Like a magician, Cori pulls four more Ethnotek bags from the trunk of her scooter and leads us upstairs. Her husband Jake arrives moments later, and together we put the world to rights over brunch and smoothies in the middle of Bali.

This is what happens when you follow a brand for years and finally get the chance to meet them.

What is Ethnotek all about?

Cori and Jake Orak are the founders of Ethnotek Backpacks, a socially responsible company making travel backpacks, camera bags, laptop cases and accessories.

But Ethnotek aren’t just any backpack company. There’s a whole lot more to their story. 

In 2007, Jake was travelling around Vietnam by motorbike and kept noticing local artisans producing handmade textiles. He’d already worked as a bag designer for a large company that used mass-produced fabric – and he realised that Vietnam’s small-scale artisans could soon be destined to go out of business.

Luckily, those same artisans inspired him to think that:

“Integrating handmade ethnic textiles into high-quality functional bags could be a great way to bring stable income to artisan communities, with the intention of empowering the artisan communities to revive and sustain their craft as a result.”

Ethnotek began pretty quickly after that. Jake and his wife Cori’s travels became backpack-focused; orientated around finding villages they could potentially work with. By asking questions, visiting shops, meeting families and forming relationships with artisans before eventually offering to set up a working partnership, they established a network of artisan villages around the world.

They currently source textiles from artisan villages in five countries – India, Ghana, Vietnam, Indonesia and Guatemala.

[Image courtesy of Ethnotek]

Crucially, Ethnotek doesn’t dictate what textiles their partner villages will make. In fact, it’s the opposite, and the textiles featured on Ethnotek bags are chosen by the artisans themselves: their favourite patterns, or their most traditional.

In India, men work at pit looms to produce geometric patterns of embroidery. In Ghana, they use block prints with carved Ghanian motifs to decorate batik fabric. The women from a small mountain town in Guatemala carefully stretch cotton yarn over a wooden frame and knot it intricately before dying then finally weaving it on a handloom.

The Indonesians decorate batik dyed cotton with patterns derived from both classic East Asian architecture and from the weaving style used for roofs, walls and the floor mats rolled out in warungs across the country for people to sit on and eat together at night.

And in Vietnam, the Hmong women who live up in the Hoàng Liên Son mountains embroider pieces of linen with countless types of stitches in bright colours. They create an array of symbols and motifs from everyday life, all of which come together to tell the maker’s personal story.

[Image courtesy of Ethnotek]

Yet despite these methods passing down through generations, the textile traditions of these independent craftsmen and craftswomen are in danger of dying out.

Thanks to the speed and ease of creating machine-made products in factories on a mass scale, there is now much less demand for handmade fabrics, and there’s very little impetus to pass these skills on to future generations.

No matter how beautiful or historical these traditional textiles might be.

‘Threads’: introducing Ethnotek’s sustainability model

Ethnotek is a socially conscious business with a sustainable mission. They want to preserve these traditional crafts and support their artisan creators without being wasteful – which is how Jake came up with his self-described ‘eureka’ idea.

‘Threads’ are inter-changeable panels attached via velcro and buckles to the front of an Ethnotek Raja pack. They allow a customer to purchase just one backpack and then collect as many Threads as they’d like, changing the appearance of their pack each time. This keeps up demand for the handmade fabrics but minimises any negative impact – plus it becomes much easier to support more artisans, as people are more likely to buy a second Thread at half the cost of the backpacks they’re made for.

[Image courtesy of Ethnotek]

The rest of Ethnotek’s bags all feature handmade textiles too: they’re just not removable. All packs are constructed using an incredibly durable 600-denier nylon made from recycled plastic bottles. Although it’s not a natural fibre, it will last a lifetime – and it’s also water resistant.

Moreover, all of Ethnotek’s bags and backpacks are made in Vietnam, where Jake and Cori lived for eight years, at a workshop operated by their close friend Ai. This one location houses everything – design, prototyping, material management, moulding, stamping, cutting, sewing and fulfilment – making the entire Ethnotek process very low impact and sustainable.

Are you wondering where my connection to Ethnotek comes from?

Way back in 2012, I read an article written by my blogger friend Naomi. She’d started travelling with an Ethnotek Raja pack and was absolutely in love with it – and once I started looking at Ethnotek’s website I immediately started coveting one too.

But I can be a bit of a procrastinator. Despite checking in with the company periodically over the next few years, it slipped to the back of my mind until another blogger friend shared an Ethnotek Kickstarter campaign on Facebook, and I realised she’d become firm friends with Cori in Ubud.

After my cries of ‘It’s such a small world!” had subsided, I decided it was the perfect time to commit to my long-term intrigue about Ethnotek. I backed their campaign for the new Premji Pack – and I’m so glad I did.

Why I love the Ethnotek Premji Pack

From the moment it arrived, this backpack quickly segued into becoming my favourite everyday bag. It’s comfortable, functional, and has the most stunning design (I chose the brightly coloured geometric Vietnam 6 print).

The Premji has a 20 litre capacity but is still a pretty slim size, which means I don’t pack it too full and I save my shoulders some strain. At home, it easily holds my stuff on a daily basis – but I’ve also managed to cram all my flight carry-on into this backpack too (laptop, camera, kindle and plane snacks) which allowed it to become my travel daypack too.

And who would’ve thought those loops would make a perfect storage spot for gifted cigars from Cuban farmers?

The best part is its vast collection of pockets and zipped sections – as a diehard compartmentaliser who adores knowing that everything in a bag has its rightful home, this many pockets is essentially my dream!

My favourite features of the Premji Pack: 

20 litre capacity

Stretchy mesh pocket on one side for water bottles

Slip pocket on other side for quick-grab items

Top zippered pocket (I store my wallet, keys and phone in here)

Double side straps to hold items like yoga mats, tripods and hiking poles (or rolled up clothes when you over-prepare for the weather, like I often do)

Front zippered section with multiple organiser pockets (good for pens, notebooks and general bag paraphernalia)

Laptop divider inside main compartment

Padded back panel

Hidden zippered access to main compartment via the back panel

So many loops and buckles to attach things to!

Reflective webbing strips for visibility in poorly lit conditions

The Ethnotek Premji Pack costs $109 online. If you use the code ‘FLORA10’ you’ll get 10% off!

Becoming an Ethnotek ambassador

Pretty soon after I realised my love for the Premji Pack, I got in touch with Cori and Jake via email and asked to be part of their Ambassador programme.

In exchange for promising to write about Ethnotek and post on social media, Cori sent out a couple of bags for me to use. And so my Ethnotek collection began to grow.

For the last year, I’ve been trialling Ethnotek’s Raja Pack and the Cyclo Sling in a variety of situations: from London life to international travel, and from hiking trips to music festivals.

They’re both fantastic bags for different reasons – so I thought I’d share my experiences and thoughts about each.

Trialling the Raja 46 litre backpack

I first trialled the Raja backpack on a summer trip to Milan (hence the Italian-esque photos). It acted as my main pack for a few days – which meant filling it with a few outfits, a pair of shoes, toiletries, plus my laptop, camera, book, wallet, passport, water bottle and a few other bits and pieces.

First up, space. It seems like this pack has a never-ending amount of room, mainly because the roll-top opening effectively allows the bag to expand.

The Raja also has organisation in mind, despite having a hefty capacity of either 30 litres or 46 litres. There’s a zipped pocket inside the main compartment; a zippered pocket on one side of the bag with a slip pocket on top of it; and even a zippered pocket inside the Thread itself.

The padded back panel zips open to an insulated space for your laptop, so you avoid rummaging through all your stuff in the main compartment (this is a dream for security check at airports!). There’s also access to the bottom of the main compartment via a zipper on the left side of the bag.

My favourite features of the Raja Pack:

Interchangeable Thread which attaches to front panel

Large roll top opening

Floating inner pocket in main compartment for valuables

Mesh pocket on left for water bottle (this side also zips open to access the main compartment)

Slip pocket on right, with a zipped lined pocket for your phone, wallet, keys etc

Insulated computer pouch which keeps computer suspended from the ground. Accessed via a separate zipper

Padded back panel with air mesh

Padded shoulder straps with cross chest buckles

Made from durable water resistant material made from recycled plastic bottles

Other uses for the Raja Pack

Although I’m not a rock climber/skateboarder/particularly good yogi, I’ve heard rave reviews for the Raja from many people who practice these hobbies. Because the Thread is fastened to the main pack with velcro and buckles, it’s possible to insert a skateboard across the bag’s front and hold it in place with the Thread. For climbers, the 46l is big enough to fit all your gear, from helmet to ropes to harness, and the wide opening makes it easy to access everything.

As for yoga lovers, the side buckles can easily hold a yoga mat – and the same goes for camera tripods, tent poles, sleeping mats… Basically anything you can think of!

My issues with the Raja Pack

I was a bit too eager for the Raja’s first outing in Italy, and I overloaded the pack to the extent that I quickly felt the strain on my shoulders. This backpack doesn’t have a hip belt, so it’s not advised to carry too much weight – although Cori and Jake have recently released a detachable hip belt which slots through the back panel for just $20, so once I get one of these I’ll be using the Raja a lot more!

Also (as you can probably see from these photos), I was carrying the Raja way too low on my back. Once I tightened the straps it felt more comfortable.

Prices for the Ethnotek Raja Pack range from $189 to $199 online. If you use the code ‘FLORA10’ you’ll get 10% off!

A review of the Ethnotek Cyclo travel sling

Ever since I made the switch to using backpacks in everyday life, I haven’t really used a cross-body bag – but the Ethnotek Cyclo Sling is a game changer. It’s the perfect bag for when I want to be handsfree, yet secure. 

This bag has a capacity of 11 litres but the ingenious design means tons of possibilities for how to store your stuff. There’s a main compartment which rolls open and closed for maximum capacity; two organiser pockets inside the main compartment; hidden zipper pockets on either side of the bag – one which is an alternative access point to the main compartment, and one for storing small objects; and a padded back panel with its own zipped pocket lined with soft fabric, perfect for your phone, passport or anything breakable like sunglasses.

The main area is big enough to comfortably hold a book, jumper, wallet, phone, keys, and passport – basically all the things I carry on-board for a flight. The strap is made of seatbelt-style material and snaps shut with a buckle. The outer material is cotton but it’s lined with a shiny nylon fabric so effectively repels water – and it’s an off-white colour so you can see easily inside.

But the Cyclo Sling’s best feature is its versatility. By varying the length of the strap, it can be worn as a cross-body bag, a shoulder bag or around the waist as a bum bag (ok, a ‘fanny pack’ for the Americans amongst us). I’ve tried all three methods, and now I usually either hang it on my shoulder or sling it cross-body. Being able to quickly move it around from my back to my front is great too.

My favourite features of the Cyclo Sling:

Roll-top access to main compartment

Organiser pockets inside main compartment containing a document slot, two stretch-mesh pockets and a pen slot

Hidden zippered access pocket to main compartment on right side

Zippered pocket on left side for tissues, lip balm etc

Secure zippered lined pocket inside the padded air-mesh back panel

Adjustable strap to convert from cross-body bag to waist bag

Other uses for the Cyclo Sling

The Cyclo Sling is great for active travelling, especially hiking and cycling. It’s the perfect bag for festivals, too: just the right size to store your essentials, easy to put on your back and forget you’re wearing it, but equally easy to swing around to your front if you’re a bit worried about getting pick pocketed.

My issues with the Cyclo Sling

The main downside for me is due to being female. The strap across my chest always seems to fall between my boobs with the buckle squarely in the centre, and it’s not too comfortable. If the bag isn’t too heavy it’s not much of a problem – but as we’ve learnt, I carry a lot in my bags!

As an obsessive water-drinker it’s a shame there isn’t an obvious way to attach a water bottle to the bag. Luckily I’ve developed a hack: rolling up the bag’s opening and placing the bottle there, before clipping the buckle over it and tightening the strap. Works like a charm!

The Ethnotek Cyclo Travel Sling costs $69 online. If you use the code ‘FLORA10’ you’ll get 10% off!

My favourite part about Ethnotek as a whole? Its inclusivity

There’s an adventurous spirit clearly running throughout the community who buy these bags – but then what would you expect when the company is founded by two perpetual travellers?

Instead of calling their client base as ‘customers’, Jake and Cori refer to them fondly as ‘tribe members’, encouraging them to share photos of their packs online with the hashtag #ETKTribe. They jump at the chance to meet tribe members around the world: as soon as I posted my first Bali photo on Instagram, Cori commented with, “You’re here on my island?! When can I see you??”

It’s also handy that Ethnotek bags are so instantly recognisable. They’ve heard stories of travellers making friends because they both carry the backpacks; and on one of their trips back to Vietnam, Cori ran after a tribe member (who she was due to meet for the first time a few days later) when she spotted his Ethnotek pack walking down the street!

The next step, Jake says, is to bridge the gap between Ethnotek customers and artisans. Visiting the villages where these fabrics are made to learn about their cultures directly would be an adventure in itself; one that has already tempted me.

It’s so easy to buy a mass-produced backpack with no story behind it. Ethnotek is different.

Nowadays, many travellers are looking for something different in the gear they carry. Their priorities lie in socially responsible, ethically sourced products which have a focus on cultural preservation when possible.

Ethnotek operate a very simple model. Selling bags creates work for artisans around the world: work which provides income and preservation of craft and culture. 

I’m fascinated by the transparency of Cori and Jake’s company. When I pick up my Premji bag every day, I’m continually reminded that there’s an accessible story behind it – one I can trace from conception to production, thanks to Ethnotek. And hopefully one day I can carry it all the way into the mountains of Vietnam and meet the women who cultivated, wove, dyed, sewed, batiked and embroidered the fabric completely by hand.

That’s why I became part of the Ethnotek tribe. And I’m so glad I did.

Win your own Ethnotek Premji backpack!

Are you feeling inspired to carry an Ethnotek backpack? If so, you’re in luck!

In celebration of all things cultural, I have one gorgeous Ethnotek Premji backpack to give away, patterned with an India 8 design and retailing at $99.

This giveaway will run from December 6th to 16th and is open internationally. I’ll contact the winner on Monday 17th, but if I don’t hear from them within a week then I’ll draw another person’s name.

I’d love this pack to make its way to a good home, so to be in with a chance of winning just write a comment on this article telling me why the Premji Pack is right for you, and what adventures you’re planning to take with it! After that, you can click the ‘blog post comment’ button below and you’ll be entered.

There’s also a few other ways you can increase your chances of winning (including signing up to my email list because I’m soon to launch a NEWSLETTER! It’s been a long time coming). I know these contests can be a bit annoying, but if you’re really keen to have an Ethnotek backpack of your own then following some social channels shouldn’t be too much trouble.

Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: some of the bags in this article were gifted to me by Ethnotek – but hopefully you can tell that my love for this brand is completely genuine!

The post Ethnotek Backpacks: The Company Preserving Traditional Textile Culture appeared first on Flora The Explorer.

via WordPress https://ift.tt/2QeSswm