African textiles were not very common, but they have gained quite a lot of attention in recent years. People specifically of the west have developed a love for this fabric and want to dive deeper into its history. Many designers have incorporated them into the latest fashion trends as well. It is good to see that the African market is also being motivated and that their arts and crafts inspire people. This article will shed light on how this eminent cloth came into existence and its sheer significance. For details about the history of African mud cloth fabric, visit this website.
Origin
When it comes to the originality of the cloth, it came into existence in Mali, located in the western part of Africa. Traditionally, this piece of clothing was worn by hunters as it was deemed that those wearing it will be protected.
Tradition
Not to forget, wearing this cloth is also a status symbol for the Africans. It is prevalent in African culture for African women to be wrapped in this cloth immediately after giving birth. This is because it is deemed that this material can absorb pain from a female’s body and provide her relief. The tradition also states that a mother and a baby who is just born will stay protected if wrapped in this cloth.
Process
To make this magnificent piece of art, the cloth is first dried by keeping it under the sun and using tea leaves to cover it. After the drying process, the fabric is ready to be painted with a unique African heritage. The beauty of this art is that the traditional craft is made by using mud instead of paint or any dye. Patterns that consist of African origin, history, geography are painted by using mud. Once the mud leaves an imprint on the cloth, it is washed away. Undoubtedly, this process is quite tiring as the same process is repeated multiple times to create different patterns. A great technique used by Africans to remove yellow areas from the cloth is to use bleach. The bleach turns those yellow areas brown. This exhausting process is passed down from one generation to the other. Africans consider this a mark of pride for themselves.
Patterns
People all over the world are in awe of the patterns made on the cloth. It is widely known that Africans have their traditions and cultural heritage, but what do these signs refer to? These imprints refer to historical battles fought wherein Africans succeeded. This cloth keeps the Africans motivated. Africans are very strict when it comes to following cultural laws and regulations. Hence, most of their fabric consists of cultural imprints which showcase their values and traditions.
In conclusion, Africans are yet to make their footing strong in the textile market throughout the world. The African mud cloth has started to gain popularity, and people have become a massive fan of the imprints on the fabrics. This article has explained the history and significance of this cloth. Africans value it to a great extent and consider it their pride.