Mudcloth is a handmade fabric,
making each piece a truly unique one of a kind work of art. Because of this, the
design you see is a representation of the color combinations available. The
products that we offer are most often available in two colors (black/white or
brown/black), three colors (black/brown/white), and three color multi-panels.
Bogolanfini (literally
translated from the Mande language as “mud cloth”)
Authentic mudcloth is made by
the Bamana people of Mali. It is a process that takes several weeks to complete.
Bamana men weave narrow strips of fabric from hand spun white cotton yarn. The
strips are then sewn together into the Bogolan fabric. The fabric is washed and
laid in the sun to dry. Next it is dyed yellow using a brown solution made from
tree leaves and dried by the sun. The cloth is now ready for the mud
application. The black mud dye that is applied to the fabric is over a year old
as it is collected from dried up ponds and stored in a covered pot for one year
to ferment. A water immersion follows to release excess mud. The cloth is dyed
yellow again and mud dye is reapplied. This gives it its rich, black color. At
this point the design appears yellow with a dark background. A mixture of
peanuts, caustic soda (one of the main ingredients in soaps and detergents),
millet bran and water is heated and painted over the yellow design which turns
it brown. Approximately one week of drying in the sun cures the applications to
the fabric. Finally, the soap mixture is washed away and what is left is a white
design on a dark background. Variations of this technique are used to create
three and four color mudcloth.
How to care for Bogolanfini
As the description above
indicates, Bogolanfini mudcloth should be handled with care. You should care for your mudcloth
product by one of the following methods:
The best technique for mudcloth
itself is hand washing
Products made with mudcloth
should be spot cleaned or dry cleaning is also recommended
Machine washing is acceptable.
However, it is best to launder in a lingerie bag using cold water, delicate
cycle, and mild detergent.
