When a good friend came to visit me in California, she brought some of my favorite Brazilian treats all wraped up in a gorgeous fabric with bold flowers.
This fabric is known in Brazil and Portugal as "chita" (pronounce it shee-ta). It is said that the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama took some colorful cotton fabric from India that would later become the chita as we know it. When Portugal colonized Brazil in the early XVI century, they brought chita with them to the new found land. I'm not familiar with how the Portuguese use chita, but I can say that in Brazil it is pretty much a national treasure.
Its origins are humble though: chita is probably the cheapest fabric you will ever find. Because of the affordable price and the never-ending pattern options it soon became a popular choice among the poor population (not only for clothing and domestic items, but also for many folklore and religious manifestations). The riches were fast in labeling chita as low quality and bad taste, and didn't want anything to do with it.
But as we all know, fashion trends are a tricky businness. So guess what had a major comeback in the past years? Yep, you guessed it right. Suddenly top designers were being inspired by chita and making haute-couture dresses, accessories and furniture that would actually cost a lot of money. Now if you want to be stylish and funky and modern in Brazil you will certanly get something made with the good old chita.
How about one of these lovelies?
1. I'm so in love with this upholstered chair! Via Casa e Jardim.
2. Gorgeus girl dress with my favorite chita pattern. Via Cia das Maes.
3. A bean bag that will brighten up any corner. Via Farm Rio.
4. I just adore this necklace. Via Raizes Corticeiras.
5. How perfect is this bag? Via Amo Muito.
6. Wooden stools inpired by chita flowers. By designer Isabela Vecci.
7. Super cute coasters. Via Bella Kitchen.
8. Pillows! Aren't they lovely? Via Redecore.
PS: While checking Flickr for more chita love, I found some examples of how creative crafters can be: one, two, three, four, five & six. So inspiring!
I LOVE those fabrics!!! That chair is so wonderful! I can just picture pillows in that fabric!
Posted by: becky farley | January 20, 2011 at 06:45 PM
Hi Becky! Isn't that chair wonderful? Can you imagine having this on a craft room? Swoon! Thank you for coming here! xo
Posted by: Viviana | January 20, 2011 at 06:53 PM
Oi Viviana! Tudo bem? Em Portugal vc pode ver melhor como a chita é utilizada no blog da Rosa Pomar: http://aervilhacorderosa.com/.She has been doing some amazing work in recovering chita for handmade items. Love the colours in the chita you posted!
Posted by: Ana | January 21, 2011 at 02:13 AM
Oi Ana! I know Rosa's work, it's pretty amazing. I love her dolls! Obrigada pela visita.
Posted by: Viviana | January 22, 2011 at 10:53 AM