Ellendale Pool and Raspberry Kikoy

As the suns sets the spectacular cliff face of Ellendale Pool is reflected in the tranquil waters of the freshwater pool fringed with clusters of reeds and cajubut paperbarks. A mini gorge set down in a deep gully between rolling green farmland near Walkaway, Geraldton. A great place to camp within easy reach of Perth.

We called in on our return journey from the Karratha FeNaCing Festival in August, and as the evening cooled I found a Raspberry Kikoy sarong in the car to keep me warm as I enjoyed this beautiful place. Then drove on to Mingenew for a great evening with my family at Casuarina.

Hilary

Seashells Kikoy spotted at the reading Music Festival in the UK. Fantastic weekend of music, mud and no sleep! But I had my kikoy, my gumboots and my trusty sleeping bag. I wore my Seashells and Sorbet kikoy sarongs everywhere I travelled. At the beaches in Portugal, the Running of the Bulls in Spain, riding camels during a heat wave in Morrocco. I used the sarongs as towels in my backpack and a sheet to cover me as I slept on the felucca travelling down the Nile. It was used as our picnic blanket  in London on my birthday, and then as a shelter over our heads when it rained! I wore them as scarves to keep me warm walking to work every day during the UK winter and I draped them around my little room to remind me of summer back home in Australia!

Pia

On a cold wintry night in July, Rockpool Kikoy joined Anjel Ms on the cat walk of the Fremantle Markets Fashion Parade. To the pumping beat of Torrini’s ‘Jungle Drum’ the models brought an early summer to the night with the vibrant, warm colours of the kikoys. We draped the girls in strands of stunning jewellery from Bangladesh and beautiful woven belts from Bali. They looked sensational and it was so much fun!

Kikoy worn as a dress or sarong

It was only a little article but we were really pleased to have our kikoy beach towels featured in New Accessory of the Week on page 2 of The Weekend Australian’s Travel & Indulgence lifout!

Kikoy beach towels in ‘The Australian’ 19-20 June 2010

Your intrepid Kikoy researcher! has just returned from Kenya and the beautiful coastal archipelago. It was a really worthwhile journey other than a spot of unrest in Nairobi where 16 Somalian MP’s were arrested for misappropriating funds (undeclared income!). Rockpool Kikoy only source the superior quality kikoy sarongs of Kenya – the genuine article. I met with my wonderful supply people, visited mills, drank a lot of excellent Safari Tea and explored new alleyways to talk kikoys. I happily met with my very talented knotters who are pleased with the ongoing orders. Every kikoy sarong sold through Rockpool Kikoy benefits the local textile communities. We are very proud to be helping families keep the tradition of the famous Kikoys alive so that everyone in the community benefits as the industry becomes stronger through healthy trade.

Kikoys and friendship

Travelling-

We did head up the coast in an open dinghy (with provisions for 2 days – including a decent size kingfish! and a jar of locally grown cashew nuts packed loosely in woven baskets), weaving through the mangrove channels to Kiwayuu just south of the Somalia border. The area is bordered by a Marine Park which makes it difficult for the local fishermen to make a living. It is very isolated but beautiful. The Kiwayuu village people have made a brilliant industry collecting old flip flops (thongs!) washed up on the beach. During the monsoon rains all the broken flip flops make their way out to sea where the currents push them up to Kiwayuu. The women slice the thongs into flat pieces and make fish mobiles, flowers, hair elastics and colourful beaded fly curtains to hang in doorways. They sell them at the markets further south in Mombassa. This is the ultimate in recycling!

You can see the wonderful documentary about Flip-Flotsam on www.journeyman.tv?lid=12179 or YouTube.

We didn’t have time to head bush this trip but did meet a gentle, sweet giraffe by the name of Daisy who licked pellets of grain from our hands and even accepted a big hug from us while batting her huge beautiful black eyelashes.

Pink Everlasting Kikoy scarf with beautiful contrasting white fringe

Rockpool Kikoy will be represented at the St Hildas Bazaar this year. Held on Sunday 9 May 2010 the Bazaar will be a great opportunity for little kids and big kids! to give their mum a big hug, and make them something wonderful or buy a little gift to let them know how much they’re loved and appreciated.

Look out for the colourful and vibrant display of beach wear Kikoy wraps and sarongs, beach towels, beach dresses and summer Robes. All the Kikoy fabric is 100% cotton and the Kikoy sarongs are also beautiful to wear as a summer pashmina.  Stunning flowers,  pearl jewellery, xquisite organic skincare,  olive oil, olives , yummy jams, preserves and much more will be available. Hope to see you there!

St Hildas Church England Girls School. Chidley Campus, Mc Cabe Street, Mosman Park, Perth.  Western Australia. 10.30am - 3.00pm

Rockpool Kikoy has been featured in Scoop Magazine’s 51 Autumn Edition 2010! In Style News  Editor Rachael Ciccareelli suggests the gorgeous warm Kikoy sarong scarf could be the new quintessential fashion item when the weather turns chilly. Read the article here.

(Click on) Looking sensational in the very versatile Charcoal Kikoy scarf 

Parrot Fish Kikoy scarf

Rockpool Kikoy sell their beautiful sarongs aboard the multi award winning True North of North Star Cruises Australia. North Star Cruises is the Kimberlies longest established adventure cruise operator and the only cruise that travels with a full time helicoptor to explore the spectacular region of Northern Australia, Rowley Shoals and New Guinea. The True North has won both national and state tourism awards and is the benchmark in luxury adventure tourism.

www.northstarcruises.com.au 

Spectacular underwater Sea Urchin Kikoy sarong

Blue skies, crystal clear water and velvet, soft sand. Is there anywhere better to chill out than on the beach on a hot Christmas Day with your Rockpool Kikoy, Beach Towel or Beach Dress?

Sun, sand and Kikoy Beach Towels on South Beach, Dongara

Absolutely the BEST and most popular Christmas present in Australia. Unwrap your Kikoys with family and friends and then head to the beach for the traditional Aussie swim on Christmas Day.

The Kikoy is a fabulously absorbant towel to spread out on the sand and doze in the sun and eat big slices of cool watermelon. Chill out on the body board, throw the tennis ball, dunk a few friends in the water,  body surf the waves.  A game of beach cricket is pretty obligatory too. Just remember to liberally apply zinc cream to your nose and shade your shoulders with your new beautiful kikoy!

Kikoys can be bought online at www.sarongs.net.au

Did you know the Kikoy is traditionally a men’s sarong? But like all good things, women will often commondere them as their own. If your loved one is a sarong lover then the Kikoy is for him!

The Kikoy is worn on the East coast of Africa by the Swahili fishermen as they fish for lobster, prawns  and even beautiful large turtles which they catch and hoist onto their dhows to bring back to shore for tagging and then release. The most popular colours are Smokebush (Grey with orange border), Charcoal (Black with red border), Rainforest (Dark green with black border) and True Blue (Blue with red border).

Men especially love the robust weave of the soft cotton. The Swahilis wrap the kikoy tightly around their waist and then roll the top outwards a couple of times before pulling down firmly onto their hips. The weave of the cotton grips firmly and stays. Many customers have told me that when they lived in East Africa they even wore their Kikoys to bed. They still do.

So if he loves wearing a sarong, spoil your man and buy him the best – a ROCKPOOL KIKOY

www.sarong.net.au

Charcoal and Smokebush Kikoys worn traditionally on the Lamu Archipelago