The Making of Mudcloth
The making of mudcloth is a time-consuming process, normally
taking four days to a week to complete depending on the weather. Each piece is made of 100% cotton, with is completely
and totally hand-made. Normally mudcloth is made completely 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. Each panel is sown together and then the entire piece is
dyed in tea made from Bogalon tree found in Mali, West Africa. The tea acts as a fixative for mud painted designs.
The deigns are hand painted, using specially prepared mud. Some designs are then bleached after the entire process is
completed to give white design.
Even without these meanings being well known, mudcloth has become
tremendously popular lately in the western world. An extraordinarily beautiful fabric; the unique and extic colors
and designs combine with an almost impossible to find hand spun and hand woven fabric to produce this rich and elegant textile.
No extra meanin is neede to gain pleasure from this art form. Knowing more of the meaning and mindset behand this art
form can only add to your satisfaction and depth of spirit.
