David Anderson couldn’t wait to see the world. He fled small-town Ontario at the age of 17 to quench his wanderlust, making his way across Asia. When he found himself in the middle of Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, he fell in love with the array of colourful, wildly patterned fabrics hanging around him. If travel was his first love, he found a new passion in textiles.
David lived in India for 20 years, where he learned about dying, weaving and printing. Now, as the owner of haveli home, he returns twice a year, to source materials for his cushions, blankets, and table runners from India, where they are made. “It’s my home away from home,” he says.
His independent spirit and love of travel endures to this day. Even though he’s also lived in China and travelled the world extensively, he continues to deepen his knowledge of India, reading books by Indian authors, studying Indian history, and listening to Indian music. “There’s a whole lot to see in this whole wide world; you might as well specialize,” he smiles.