African Mudcloth Bambara Fabric HANDMADE 45" x 72" NEW

African Mudcloth Bambara

Description

Traditional mudcloth sheets are handwoven and made one at a time. No two pieces are exactly alike - - the exact patterns may vary slightly from one piece to the next. They're great for clothing, home decoration, crafts and other creative pursuits.

African artisans hand-dye symbols into these fabrics in order to tell stories of their villages and African proverbs. Mudcloth has a long tradition of being used by West African warriors and hunters to camouflage themselves. Nowadays, people across the globe are wearing them to stand out and celebrate their connection to the African continent. These mudcloth pieces, which are made in Mali are "Lapa" size. 45" X 72". Best to wash by hand.

 Color: Mustard, rust, black and white

Size: Measures approximately 45" x 72"

Handcrafted in Mali.

 
Representative Sample

Meet the Artist

 Ali Guindo is one of the weavers who weaves cotton to make into mudcloth clothing and accessories.  He weaves the fabric, and then it is taken to a painter who paints the designs onto the fabric. Ali Guindo is from the Dogon ethnic group and works in a little village called Somo, in the Dogon area of Mali, West Africa.  Because he lives in such a remote area, finding him to make some of the mudcloth fabric was a great way for him to increase his business.

About Mudcloth

Each piece of mudcloth has a story to tell. The symbols, and the way in which they are arranged, as well as the color and shape of the mudcloth reveals a variety of different secrets. Social statues, a persons character or occupation are all things which a piece of mudcloth tells. Even now, African people are very careful about what they wear, as each fabric, color, and dress is interpreted by others. What you wear shows what kind of a person you are!

The making of mudcloth is a time-consuming process, normally taking four days to a week to complete depending on weather. Each piece is made of 100% cotton, and is completely and totally hand-made. Normally mudcloth is made totally from scratch. The men start the process by weaving cotton thread on a loom. The loom is normally hand-held and makes a strip of cloth five to six inches wide. For a normal sized ( 6'x45") piece they will weave nine panels and then sew them together. From then on the women have traditionally painted and designed the cloth.

A mudcloth artist is much like any western artist dealing in a specific field. Each concept must be taught and learned over a long period of time. A person wishing to work in the art of mudcloth has to be taught how to make each of the different dyes out of organic substances, as well as how each of the substances will react with the fabric and fixatives.

The first step in making the cloth is to set it in a solution that dyes the cloth yellow and acts as the fixative: typically this is a tea made from the Bogolon tree which is native to Mali, West Africa. The mud designs are then hand painted onto the cloth with the tea acting as a fixative for the mud dye. The mud used to make mudcloth is usually mixed with water and then set aside to sit for about one year.

Using twigs or metal instruments the artist will paint the designs with the mud, being sure to saturate the area so it will not wash out. The fabric is then washed and another layer is applied over the first. The fabric is then dried and put in an organic solution to make the patterns appear darker. Finally, on black and white fabric, a soda is painted on to the areas that have no patterns. This bleaches the fabric causing it to regain its original cotton white.

Each color in a mudcloth sheet has its own meaning. The most traditional coloring has been the black background with white designs. This is typically used for story telling or the portrayal of a proverb.

Another color popular among hunters and the Fulani people is the rust. This color is preferred as it does not show dirt and also as it is supposed to represent the strong supernatural powers that protect the hunter. The rust color signifies blood either from the hunt, or from warfare. Because mudcloth is made from the soils, it has been useful to both groups as a form of camouflage.

White mudcloth is perhaps the most difficult fabric to make as it is easy to stain with the dye: it is typically worn by girls and women in ceremonial events. Another color rarely seen is gray, this color is worn as camouflage by hunters. The cream color is the natural color of the mudcloth before it has been dyed. Many of the other colors also represent meanings.

Check out more beautiful handcrafted items from around the world in my eBay store. I combine shipping on multiple purchases!

About Us

Globe Rover Trading LLC offers our customers unique, handmade items from around the world. Many of our products are indigenous cultural handicrafts. Each piece in our store is created lovingly by artisans who proudly carry on and perpetuate their artistic cultural traditions through their beautiful workmanship. As each item is handcrafted, it is one of a kind. Our inventory is always changing, so be sure to visit our store often. You're sure to find that perfect treasure for yourself or someone special.

We are dedicated to the principles of Fair Trade.  We are committed to working with suppliers who share our goal of providing fair wages and good employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged artisans worldwide. Your purchase helps create a just and sustainable economic system through fair trade.

Thank you for visiting and for your purchase. Items purchased here are purchases you can feel good about. Your purchase helps support and change artisans' lives around the world.

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