Since they keep featuring that reddish throw, a bit about that:
Bogolanfinis (“mudcloth” in Bambara) from Mali dates back 1000+ years, with designs mainly in black/white/rust (eg. below, on the right). Modern simple styles are made and sold to the west in other colors.
Marks carry deeper messages. If Louis’ cloth was traditional, these designs might say something about “wealth/luxury.”
One original use was ritual protection and healing for hunters and women. Magic is coded into the messages, plus the mud used to color was naturally antibacterial…
And now Daniel is precisely on this cloth… interviewing a vampire who *already* bit him once… getting veins poked by a strange doctor… hunting dangerous prey in his dreams…
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Info above from here but probably want to read other things for more/better info. Here’s an interesting set below left, or search “burgundy mudcloth” on Etsy to protect your neck with something more like Louis’.
Mudcloth is seen traditionaly in west African textile patterns, dyed onto cotton sheets using fermented mud. I used only glass that would reflect SOME of the amazing colours possible by this method. The original pattern I created with inspiration drawn from different aspects my ancestry
Bogolan, also known as "mudcloth", is cotton Malian cloth dyed and patterned with fermented earth based dyes. It is created by the Bambara people of Mali, who make up 40% of the total population.
Bogolanfini adds a sahelcore flair to any outfit in the form of headwraps, scarves, skirts, pants or boubou (kaftan).
It may be the most emblematic Sahelian textile apart from indigo tie-dye.
A town called San is the epicenter of bogolanfini production and source of the highest quality bogolan textile.
The dyeing process has been described as "cumbersome and tedious". First, cotton strips woven by the men are then dyed by the women (who undergo year-long apprenticeships)-- but first, the fresh cloth is soaked in a sort of tea made from ngallama leaves turning it yellow. After this, it is sundried, and then patterns are repeatedly hand painted with dyes made from iron-rich riverbed clays that have been fermented in jars for up to a year. The iron in the dye turns the painted areas a very dark brown thanks to the chemical reaction between the treated cotton and the dye.
The yellow parts are bleached with soaps and then the cloth is washed, leaving behind the distinctive black and white pattern that overtime may fade to varying shades of brown.
Other methods of producing bogolanfini exist in other parts of Mali, of varying degrees of quality.
Bogolanfini entered the fashion industry via designer Chris Seydou, who brought the enigmatic traditional textile into the mainstream.
Bogolanfini was traditionally worn by hunters as camouflage, and by women after giving birth, as it was believed that the bogolanfini could control the mysterious forces released postpartum.
Product of the Day - Order - Best Mudcloth https://shadesofafricajm.com/products/Best-Mud-Cloth-Bambara-%252d-Size.-Approx.-38%22-%252d-45%22-wide-x-63%22-%252d-68%22-long.html#.Y_4uSKROlPw These mudcloth pieces, which are made in Mali are "Lapa" size. Approx. 38" - 45" wide x 63" - 68" long. Sizes may vary as these are hand made. Traditional African mudcloth sheets are handwoven and made one at a time. No two pieces of mud cloth are exactly alike, so the colors shown are available, but the exact patterns vary 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. All mudcloth is individually hand spun, hand woven, and hand painted. Each piece is different. Photos shown here are representative of colors only. Indigo pieces may bleed. To prevent this, wash several times in cold water to remove as much loose dye as possible. Nothing makes a fashion statement better than mudcloth! #mudcloth #tailoring #fashionstudio #fashionconsultant #giftideas #wakandaforever #blackpanther #BlackHistoryMonth https://www.instagram.com/p/CpNpnFUuipO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
For as long as I can remember, I have always loved patterns, prints, and texture. I guess it’s just in my DNA! Today is the start of Black History Month and National Embroidery Month 🌍🪡 There are so many things to learn and be inspired by for these 28 days! Take a moment to google “bogolanfini” and feast your eyes on the beautiful prints created by the people of Mali. These prints are created using mud as a resist. #blackhistorymonth #blackhistorymonth2023 #bogolanfini #mudcloth #mudclothtextile #blackhistory365 #nationalembroiderymonth #patternsandprints #malimudcloth https://www.instagram.com/p/CoIhXodPCfL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=