Handwoven Ethiopian Cotton Dinner Napkins, Set of 2 - Natural Check
Two dinner napkins in natural hand-spun Ethiopian cotton, crossed by a fine woven check band. The color you choose - black, bronze, almond or cedar - is the color of the band.
The check is made with a pick-up technique: the weaver lifts individual threads by hand to build the pattern into the cloth as it is woven. The hand-spun cotton gives the napkins a rich texture, and they are made to take years of washing.
At 20 inches square these are full dinner napkins, larger and thicker than most, and a reusable stand-in for paper napkins that gets softer every time it is washed.
- Size - 20 x 20 inches (50 x 50 cm) each
- Quantity - sold as a set of two, one color per set
- Fiber - 100% Ethiopian cotton, hand-spun weft
- Care - machine wash cold, tumble dry low, do not bleach
Woven in a Fair Trade workshop in Ethiopia that has been woman-owned for over twenty years - a guaranteed member of the World Fair Trade Organization and a verified social enterprise. More than 100 artisans are employed there at equitable pay.
100% natural fiber. Handwoven, so weave tension and color depth vary a little between napkins, including the two in your set. Made in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia has one of the oldest weaving traditions in East Africa. These napkins come from a workshop there that has been woman-owned for more than twenty years and employs more than 100 artisans at equitable pay.
The cloth is natural hand-spun Ethiopian cotton. The check band is built with a pick-up technique, where the weaver lifts individual threads by hand so the pattern is woven into the napkin rather than printed on it.
Hand-spun yarn gives the napkins their texture and their weight. They are made to be used every day and washed often, which is what a cloth napkin is for.
The workshop has been a member of the World Fair Trade Organization since 2009 and a guaranteed member since 2019, fully verified against the ten principles of Fair Trade across its business and its supply chain. It is also a verified social enterprise, and it is assessed by independent auditors.
- 100% Ethiopian cotton, hand-spun weft
- Natural cotton body
- Check band woven by hand with a pick-up technique
- Yarn for the band dyed in small batches
Measured flat, hem to hem.
- 20 x 20 inches (50 x 50 cm) each - dinner napkin size
- Sold as a set of two, one color per set
- Approximate weight: 0.26 lb for the set
- Check band in black, bronze, almond or cedar
Handwoven, so weave tension and color depth vary a little between napkins, including the two in your set.
- Machine wash cold with like colors.
- Tumble dry low.
- Iron while slightly damp for a crisp fold.
- Do not bleach - it will fade the colored band.
- Hand-spun cotton softens with every wash.
How many napkins come in a set?
Two, both the same color. Order two sets for a table of four.
What does the color refer to?
The woven check band. Every napkin is natural cotton; the color you choose is the band that crosses it.
They are light colored. Can I bleach them?
No. Bleach will fade the colored band. Treat spills promptly and wash cold.
Are these dinner napkins or cocktail napkins?
Dinner. At 20 inches square they are full dinner size, big enough to sit across a lap.
Is it Fair Trade?
Yes. The workshop is a guaranteed member of the World Fair Trade Organization and a verified social enterprise. It has been woman-owned for over twenty years.
Where are they made?
Ethiopia.
Nature's Way is how I decide what earns a place in the shop. Six things, and every one of them is checkable on the product page above.
- Natural materials, named - I state the actual material, like milulu grass, baby alpaca or Ethiopian cotton, rather than a vague adjective.
- Made by hand - woven or carved by hand, not pressed, molded or machine-made.
- A named place - the region it was made in, taken from the maker's own labelling.
- From me or from the maker - some pieces I stock and pack myself in California; others ship directly from the maker who made them. Either way, I chose every piece, and I'm your point of contact for questions, orders and returns.
- Made in small batches - handmade, never mass-produced, so stock can run low.
- No claim I cannot show you - if I cannot verify it, it does not go on the page.
Pieces I stock myself ship from my workspace in Southern California, usually within 1–2 business days.
Other pieces ship directly from the maker who made them, which can take longer. If you need something by a certain date, email me at support@bushandbriar.com before you order and I'll tell you what to expect.
If your order includes pieces from more than one place, they may arrive in separate packages, each with its own tracking.
Shipping is free on orders over $70. Orders under $70 ship for a flat $6.
I currently ship within the continental United States.
If something is not right, email support@bushandbriar.com within 30 days of delivery. Items should be unused and in original condition.
If your order arrives damaged, send photos within 14 days and I will replace or refund it at no cost to you.
See full details here: Refund Policy
