This piece sold out and is now available for pre-order. It will be shipped to you within 12 weeks or less.

Mudcloth is a centuries-old, hand-dyed textile art that originates in West Africa, Mali. Known locally as Bògòlanfini, authentic mudcloth takes weeks to make by applying one to two coats of color-rich mud to undyed cloth. Handmade & 100% cotton. 

Fabric Details
The dimensions of the piece are approximately:
60 inches (152 cm) x 90 inches (223 cm)

Due to the nature of the fabric, tiny spaces within the seams, an organic neutral scent, some dust presence, or a slight variation in pattern may naturally occur. Colour may slightly vary due to lighting.

Process
On narrow looms, strips of cotton fabric are woven and stitched into large pieces of cloth.
The cloth is soaked in a dye bath made from leaves of the n'gallama tree that have been mashed and boiled, or soaked.

Now yellow, the cloth is sun-dried and then painted with designs using a piece of metal or wood. The paint, carefully and repeatedly applied to outline the intricate motifs, is a special mud, collected from riverbeds and fermented for up to a year in a clay jar.

A chemical reaction between the mud and the dyed cloth causes the brown color to remain after the mud is washed off. Finally, the yellow n'gallama dye is removed from the unpainted parts of the cloth by applying soap or bleach, rendering the finished cloth white.

Uses
- Decoration (wall hanging, couch throw, bedding, drapes, etc)
- Crafts (pillows, plant pot cover, furniture upholstery, coasters, tapestry, table runner, etc)
- Fashion (tote bags, pants, shirts, dresses, headbands, etc)
- Gift

Mudcloth — known as bògòlanfini or bogolan — is a handwoven cotton textile from Mali, dyed by hand using fermented mud and natural plant pigments including leaves, bark, and roots. The patterns carry deep cultural meaning and are applied entirely by hand, making each piece unique. The organic dye process makes mudcloth particularly sensitive to water and harsh chemicals.

• Dry clean only — this is the safest and most recommended method for preserving both colour and pattern. We recommend Sparrows Laundromat, Osu. 

• If spot treating is absolutely necessary: use a mild, chemical-free soap such as castile soap and cold water on the specific area only — do not soak

• Do not use regular detergent

• Do not wring, twist, or tumble dry — lay flat to dry in the shade away from direct sunlight

• Iron inside out on low heat while slightly damp, using a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric

• Some colour variation over time is natural and adds to the character of the piece

Shipping: orders that are not tagged as ‘pre-order’ will be shipped within 12 working days of purchase and typically arrive within 2–5 working days after shipping. Pre-orders will be shipped within 12 weeks of the order date.

Customs fees may apply depending on location.

Returns: orders can be returned within 3 days of reception. Check our full Return policy here.

Threaded Tribes is plastic free and committed to a full re-use of scraps.

This outfit was hand crafted in our Accra workshop using local fabrics with careful water usage and waste management.