Clare's Gallery >> Fabrics in Mali


Cotton is one of Mali's principal export, currently they are appealing for Fairtrade as, particularly, the Americans subsidize the own cotton production, making the price of African cotton fall. These pictures show how the villagers treat the cotton, and make their extraordinary fabrics. These are formed from woven strips about 25cm wide sewn together.

Cotton for sale in the Market

Women cleaning cotton and spinning the thread

Spinning Cotton in Songo

A man weaving strips on the loom.

A woman unpicking the stiches after tie dyeing in Indigo

Indigo tie dyeing in Yendouma

Painting the fabric with a resist to make Bogolan or mudcloth

Mudcloth for sale in Ende