LORNA MURRAY INDONESIA

"When I started this journey, I didn't have all the answers. I had an idea—a vision that wouldn't let go. I remember spending nights sketching designs that never felt quite right. I doubted myself. I questioned if people would even understand this fusion of culture, craftsmanship and sustainability.

It took years to meet the right artisans, to visit the places where these materials are grown, to build trust and relationships across oceans. But every small breakthrough—the first prototype that felt 'true', the first local weaver who smiled and said 'yes'—felt like a step in the right direction.

Today, when I see our pieces worn with pride around the world, I see not just design, but people. Hands. Stories. Struggles. Beauty."

"This grass is called 'Alang-Alang'. We grow it here because the climate is just right. My grandfather taught me how to recognize the best strands. It takes about three months to mature before we can harvest."

"My name is Sari, I'm 42, and I've lived in this village all my life. I used to grow rice. It was tough, and every season was uncertain. When I joined the Lorna Murray team, I learned a whole new craft. It was hard at first—I didn't know how to weave, I'd never seen a hat like this.

But they taught me with patience. Now, I can proudly say that my hands travel. The hats I make are worn in Australia, in Europe... It gives me a reason to wake up every day. With this job, I've been able to send my daughter to school. And most of all, I feel like what I do matters."

"We use bark, roots, and flowers. This blue? It comes from the butterfly pea flower we grow behind the house. And this yellow—it's from turmeric roots. These plants have been part of our tradition for generations. We dry them in the sun, boil them, and it becomes color. Real color."

"My mother taught me on a smaller loom. I sat beside her when I was seven. At first, I would just watch. Then, she let me try. Now, I teach my niece the same way. It's like the threads—we pass them on, one by one."

"When I sew these hats, I think of my mother. She taught me to sew by hand when I was little. Every stitch, every thread—it's a link between what she taught me and what I now pass on.

Here, we work slowly, with care. We respect the material. We honor the gesture. This is not a factory. It's a living studio—with voices, with laughter, and with moments of silence when concentration takes over. I love knowing that each unique piece will travel far. I leave a little part of me in each hat."

"From the heart of nature to the hands of our artisans, each creation is a journey. It's not just about fashion. It's about time. Care. People. This journey continues every time someone wears our work. And that means everything to us."