Eco Home – Thorn & Burrow Spotlight: Where Every Product Has A Meaningful Story

Located on High Street in trendy Sai Ying Pun, new homewares and decor shop Thorn & Burrow has managed to curate a truly astonishing selection of items from all four corners of the globe. They stock homewears such as cushions, rugs, and decorative objects as well as kitchenwear and fashion accessories. Their products are not only beautfiul but also highlight local craftsmen and their artistic traditions. The selection highlights Thorn & Burrows’ fair trade ethos and a focus on social enterprise. This in turn makes every item a conversation piece in more way than one! Below we review a few of our absolute favs.

Juju Hats

The Juju Hat, sometimes called a Tyn Hat, is a traditional feather headdress from the Bamileke people of Cameroon. These headdresses which symbolize prosperity were worn by royal families and sometimes dancers for important ceremonies. A true work of art, they make an amazing piece of wall decor and have become popular with interior designers . They are made from natural and/or dyed feathers, usually chicken or guinea fowl, and are stitched onto a raffia backing. The ones available at Thorn & Burrow are hand-woven by African artists in Cameroon whose families have been creating them for generations.

Juju hats range from HKD 2, 100 to HKD 2, 700 and measure from 50 cm to 80 cm in diameter.

Moroccan Boucherouite Rugs

These beautiful rugs get their name from the Moroccan Arabic bu sherwit meaning “a piece torn from pre-used clothing” or “scrap, ” leading to their nickname of “rag rugs:” they are made from strips of fabric, cotton and wool. The style originated because Berber wool production was falling overall, yet demand for the well-regarded high-quality Berber carpets was growing, so they needed a new material with which to make them. In recent years, these fun and vibrant rugs have become popular the world over as both floor coverings and wall hangings. They are all lovingly handmade by women in the Berber areas of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Created in their very own homes, the women take months to complete each one making it truly unique.

Thorn & Burrow offer a variety of sizes and styles. Their rugs range from 220 cm x 82 cm to 100 cm x 50 cm and are priced at HKD 3, 200 to HKD 800.

Jodhpur & Jaipur Clutches

The Banjara are a group of nomadic people, sometimes refered to as “gypsies” from the Indian state of Rajasthan. They are known all around the globe for their talent of producing beautiful embroidery, especially the style known as “lepo” which involves stitching decorative items such as mirrors or beads onto fabric. Thorn & Burrow stocks beautiful clutches highlighting this tradition. These colorful one-of-a-kind bags are each handmade by Banjara women located in Gujarat India. They are hand-stitched from antique fabrics, have a cotton lining and include a zipper.

Jodhpur clutches are HKD 800 and are 33 cm x 28 cm. Jaipur clutches are HKD 700 and 34 cm x 24 cm.

Burrow In Bed Linen Bed Set

Linen, which is made from fibers of the flax plant, is one of the world’s oldest fabrics. Flax is a great and green choice as the seeds can be used to make linseed oil and the plants need far less water than cotton, not to mention a whole load fewer pesticides. Known for its luxuriousness and softness, linen is also a bit of a wonder fabric. Besides being the strongest plant-based natural fiber, it is durable and incredibly absorbent. Linen also literally repels microorganisms, making it anti-bacterial. It is also recommended for people with sensitive skin. Linen makes such great bedding because of breathable it is keeping you cool in the summer, but also warm in the winter. These bedding sets are available in baby blue, smoke grey and white. Made of organic flax, they are also hypo-allergenic: perfect for allergy sufferers. They are also hand-dyed and pre-washed.

Thorn & Burrow offers a linen bed set at HKD 1, 700, which includes a duvet and 2 pillowcases as well as a flat sheet at HKD 800/900 for a queen/king.

Vintage Hmong Cushions

These gorgeous cushions are perfect to accent your living room or bedroom, and Thorn & Burrow offers a selection of styles and colors. These are made in Chiang Mai, Thailand from vintage Hmong textiles. In the 1970s many Hmong tribes people fled to Thailand where they now reside deep in the country’s hill. The Hmong are known for their batik textiles made by using wax to draw a design on hemp fabric, the traditional hand-woven fabric of choice of the Hmong people, before indigo is used as a natural dye. These cushions highlight this technique. They have a concealed zipper, come stuffed,  and feature a solid blue linen back.

Hmong Cushions are 45 cm x 45 cm and are HKD 500.

Photo credits: Thorn & Burrow.