AshBlue, a Nashville home and gift store featuring an array of items including hand-crafted British Colonial-style furniture, fine china, jewelry and modern home accents, has unveiled a new line of handmade traditional Indian tents designed for special events and seasonal outdoor living environments.  AshBlue is the only retailer currently selling these traditional tents in the United States. 

The tents are handmade by craftspeople in the desert state of Rajasthan in India. The makers use natural materials and employ traditional skills such as block-printing, dyeing, tassel-making, embroidery, appliqué, rope-making, mirror work and weaving.

“We were drawn to this product because it is rooted in a rich cultural tradition and crafted by artisans who employ great integrity, creativity and attention to detail,” says Susannah Scott-Barnes, who owns and operates AshBlue with her husband Zulu Scott-Barnes. “The tents are simply breathtaking, and we are thrilled to bring this exclusive line to Nashville to finally make it available to our friends and neighbors. We anticipate they will be captivated by the tents’ intricate beauty and capacity for creating dramatic outdoor environments.” 

The tents are designed for outdoor living and entertaining for groups large and small. AshBlue recommends the tents for weddings, christenings, music performances and yoga or meditation. The tents often are assembled and remain outdoors – in gardens or poolside – for an entire season. The exteriors are made of waterproof canvas while the interiors are crafted from cotton sheeting with decorative detailing.

AshBlue stocks a variety of the tents at its Belle Meade location; a wider selection of sizes and styles is available by special order.  Some of the featured tents are:

• Maharaja – large waterproof cotton party tent (32’ 10” x 19’ 8”)
• Raj – waterproof cotton party tent (9’ 8” x 13’)
• Pergola – small tent for rain or shade protection (9’ x 9’)
• Pavilion – octagonal waterproof cotton tent (13’ diameter)
• Shikar – luxurious living quarters complete with veranda, bedroom and bathroom (13’ x 24’)
• Lily Pond – smaller living tent with windows and veranda (12’ x 12’)

For more information, call AshBlue at 615-383-4882 or visit www.ashblue.com.