See related coverage in Global VoicesIn Mali, as in other West African countries, cloth has served as social-capital, equity, wealth, inheritance and articles of beauty for hundreds of years. In the early 1970s a group of Malian women dyers helped to re-invigorate the hand-dyed cloth industry throughout West Africa by producing a wider palate of vibrant colors and innovative designs, which continue to evolve even today. Their creative use of bright color-fast dyes and intricate patterns have turned hand-dyed bazin (an imported polished cotton) into popular fashion, sought after by rich and poor alike. Now a lucrative industry, hand-dyed cloth provides a sustainable source of asset building for many women. This is occurring in the context of trends towards "Cheap Chic" and disposable clothing, and the out-sourcing of garment industries through globalization that has made Western clothing all the more ubiquitous. By following the daily challenges of several Malian cloth dyers at different levels of economic attainment, we witness the power that women¹s artistry and entrepreneurial skills have to express the universal human need for beauty, identity, and indeed, survival.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Bamako Chic
More makers, Craftzine points us to the "Women Cloth Dyers of Mali"profiled in the documentary- Bamako Chic:
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1 comments:
Excellent, just excellent post. I am genuinely moved by such beauty and I wish the work of these women could be showcased in art books on a par with their counterparts from the West. The ingenuity and savvy of these women is really amazing. I hope a better documentary can be made not just about them but also about other types of textile makers (from the magnificent tunics of the berbers to kente cloths to Ndebele art and others. Kudos on your efforts to promote our rich cultural heritage.
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