20" Cotton Pillow w/ Embroidery, Birds,

Mudcloth was made by weaving together thin strips of plain fabric into squares. These squares were then stitched together. The fabric was then dipped in water containing leaves and branches such that the dye binds to the fabric.

The fabric was then sun-dried. It was later painted with beautiful patterns. These patterns were made using a special kind of mud. This special mud was collected from different ponds and streams. It was then left to ferment over seasons.

As the mud becomes dry, its color changes from dark brown or black to gray. The excess mud was washed off the fabric and the process was repeated many times. With every repetition, the affected area becomes darker. The unpainted areas were treated with a bleaching agent. It turns the original pale-yellow color of the fabric to brown. The fabric was again left for sun drying for a week and then washed off completely. Finally, they used to get the characteristic white pattern on a dark background.

This is how a traditional mud cloth was made in Africa. It demanded time and efforts of the artisans to create a single piece of fabric. Later, this fabric was used to create different outfits for men & women.