Slawu Nava Bag
Slawu Nava Bag
Slawu Nava Bag
A versatile textile bag inspired by the crossing of boundaries.
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Description
The Slawu Nava is a handcrafted convertible bag by Toja House, designed to move effortlessly between three distinct forms of carrying: a compact pouch or clutch, a handbag, and a shoulder or sling bag.
Its softly structured body is handcrafted in tapestry crochet, featuring the distinctive Slarak Wutah motif—a rhythmic arrangement of intersecting lines inspired by the traditional Slarak pattern. The graphic pattern gives the bag a strong architectural character while retaining the warmth and tactility of handmade textile.
Slawu Nava is designed around transformation. The drawstring closure allows the upper edge to be gathered into a compact pouch or clutch, creating a simple form for occasions when the bag is carried in the hand. When the integrated carrying elements are used, the same body transforms into a handbag, or can be worn over the shoulder or across the body as a sling bag when a hands-free option is preferred.
This ability to shift between forms is not simply a functional feature. It reflects the philosophy embedded in the Slarak Wutah motif itself: boundaries are not necessarily fixed, but can be crossed, connected, and reinterpreted.
The result is a bag that brings together pattern, adaptability, and cultural meaning—a contemporary textile object designed to change with the wearer.
Each Slawu Nava is individually handcrafted in Indonesia by women artisans, bringing together traditional textile craftsmanship and contemporary functional design.
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Design Inspiration
Slawu Nava takes its visual and philosophical language from Slarak Wutah, a Toja House interpretation of the traditional Slarak motif.
Slarak is characterised by repeated linear forms and has been interpreted as representing the divisions or boundaries within social strata. Toja House introduces the idea of wutah—a sense of crossing, spilling, or moving beyond those divisions—to create a new reading of the pattern: one in which boundaries can intersect rather than remain separate.
At its heart is the idea that life requires balance. Differences may exist, but they can also meet, overlap, and create connection.
This philosophy is translated into the physical design of Slawu Nava. Its pattern is built through the crossing of coloured stitches, while its form itself is designed to cross between different modes of use.
A pouch becomes a clutch.
A clutch becomes a handbag.
A handbag becomes a shoulder or sling bag.
The bag therefore becomes a small study in transformation—where a single object can occupy different states depending on the wearer, the occasion, and the way it is carried.
This adaptability reflects Toja House's approach to design: heritage is not treated as something static, but as a living vocabulary that can be reinterpreted through contemporary form, function, and handcraft.
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Craftsmanship
Every Slawu Nava is handcrafted in Indonesia using tapestry crochet and Kumihimo techniques, with meticulous attention to colour, stitch tension, proportion, and finishing.
The Slarak Wutah motif is built stitch by stitch through tapestry crochet. Each colour transition is carefully counted and positioned so that the intersecting lines maintain their rhythm across the surface of the bag.
The drawstring system is integrated into the textile construction, allowing the opening to gather naturally and change the character of the bag from a more open handbag form into a compact pouch or clutch.
Handcrafted textile cords and straps allow the bag to be carried in different ways without introducing unnecessary metal hardware. This keeps the construction rooted in Toja House's textile language, where the structural and decorative elements are created through the same material vocabulary.
Every piece requires hours of careful handwork. Slight variations in tension, texture, colour, and proportion are natural characteristics of the process, making each Slawu Nava individually unique.
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Materials
Exterior
Premium cotton textile
Closure
Handcrafted textile drawstring
Carrying System
Handcrafted textile and Kumihimo elements
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Carrying Options
Pouch / Clutch
Gather the drawstring closure and carry Slawu Nava by hand as a compact pouch or clutch.
Handbag
Use the integrated carrying system to transform the gathered body into a practical handbag.
Shoulder Bag
Attach or use the longer textile carrying element to wear Slawu Nava comfortably over the shoulder.
Sling Bag
Wear the longer strap across the body for a hands-free carrying option.
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Dimensions
Width: 26 cm
Height: 17 cm
Base Width: 8 cm
Please note: As each piece is handcrafted, measurements may vary slightly by approximately ±1 cm.
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Fits
Designed to comfortably carry everyday essentials, including:
Smartphone
Card holder or small wallet
Keys
Sunglasses
Lipstick and small cosmetics
Small personal essentials
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Care
Slawu Nava can be gently hand washed.
For regular maintenance, spot cleaning is recommended to preserve the textile's colour, texture, pattern, and structure.
When washing, use cold or cool water and a mild, non-detergent soap. Gently hand wash without rubbing or wringing, then reshape the bag and allow it to air dry naturally away from direct sunlight.
Avoid machine washing, bleach, harsh detergents, and prolonged soaking.
Store in a cool, dry place when not in use.
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Handmade
Every Toja House piece is individually handcrafted in Indonesia. Slight variations in weave, texture, colour, pattern, and dimensions are natural characteristics of artisanal craftsmanship, making every Slawu Nava uniquely yours.
Crafted slowly. Designed architecturally. Made by hand in Indonesia.