Photo: Courtesy of Alec Kugler1/8There are a lot of really old, beautiful temples all over Bali. It’s incredible to see how different all of these sacred spaces are. It rained for about an hour every day, so the air has this amazing freshness to it and almost everything is green.
Photo: Courtesy of Alec Kugler2/8Wherever I go, I will always find a market. The Ubud market was really fun. Markets are a great way to see a cross section of local goods. If you can weed through the phallic wooden bottle openers, you will definitely find some gems. I’m also always a fan of the tourist T-shirt. The key is getting the ones that have been on display and are sun-bleached.
Photo: Courtesy of Alec Kugler3/8We were lucky enough to be in Bali during Galungan, a Balinese religious holiday. Part of the tradition is for men to decorate large bamboo poles with harvest items including dried coconut leaves, fruits, banana leaves, and more. They then erect them at the gates of their homes on the Eve of Galungan. It makes for a very beautiful drive through town. The scale and craftsmanship of some of these pieces is really astounding.
Photo: Courtesy of Alec Kugler4/8Bali is a place of incredibly skilled weavers. It’s one thing to see baskets like this for sale in a crowded market, but it’s another to see them as part of everyday use in the villages. I love it when artisans keep the most stunning pieces for themselves.
Photo: Courtesy of Alec Kugler5/8It’s lovely to see women in local communities making a living based on skills that are inherently part of their culture. That idea is what inspired me to create Brother Vellies in the first place. The main question is always: How can I continue to support their efforts in the age of fast fashion?
Photo: Courtesy of Alec Kugler6/8This woman is weaving double ikat. If you have never seen a fabric like this, please know that the process is incredibly precise and painstaking. Creating just one foot of this fabric will take someone who has a decade of experience more than a full day. Our bestselling shoe, the Burkina sandal, uses a similarly woven fabric. It was interesting for me to see the differences in how they weave in Indonesia versus Burkina Faso.
Photo: Courtesy of Alec Kugler7/8Because sometimes you just can’t walk anymore. Scooting through the rice fields with my new friend. It was literally 105 degrees, so the wind in my hair was very welcome. I’m also fully wearing linen Sleeper pajamas as day clothes by this point. I’m telling you: It was hot.
Photo: Courtesy of Alec Kugler8/8Bali is unique in that you can see some of the most beautiful places of worship alongside the most beautiful views of the ocean. It is really such a serene place.
