top of page

Authentic African Mud Cloth & Other Handmade Fabric  

The stunning, deep color of this Dogon Indigo Fabric makes it stand out. It features dark and delicate patterns of flowers and X’s with dots in a traditional African pattern. Specific pattern may vary from photo shown. Patterns cannot be specified. Available in your choice of blue, light blue or purple. The fabric is 45” x 62” and can be used for a variety of purposes such as a headwrap or shawl. Made in Africa. 

Authentic hand dyed Indigo fabric from Guinea, West Africa. Color fast. Does not rub off on hands or other clothing.Lightweight and easy to work with. 48" x 60". Made in Guinea.

Anitque indigo fabric has a faded and aged colors to give it a vintage look. 48" x 36". 100% cotton. Thick and soft fabric. It's versatile in its uses from wearing as a blanket, decoration, or to make clothing or pillows. Made in Mali. M-F162

No two pieces are alike and none can be specified.

Note: The antique indigo is an antique fabric. It has been used for years if not decades. That is the reason that it's faded as it is and the reason that there are holes that have been repaired.

Our Products

Experience traditional African textiles with this Premium Indigo Burkina Faso. Indigo dye has been used for centuries to dye African fabric, making it a classic African fashion statement. Many African men and women love wearing the beautiful, creative patterns created by talented dye artists. Now you can experience this unique textile for yourself! It is great for decorative use anywhere in the home. This gorgeous fabric can be used as a wall tapestry, a throw blanket for the couch, or fabric for making all kinds of creative textile projects like clothing or upholstery. With this fabric, you can add a traditional African touch to your own decorations. Get creative with this premium indigo fabric. 100% cotton. Approximately 45" x 65" Made in Burkina Faso.

You can pick your own unique Baoule cloth

Baoule cloth comes from the Ivory Coast of Africa and the color range is endless. These amazing hand loomed strip cloth textiles are perfect for adding global style and a pop of color to any decor. The weight of baoule cloth is just right to use as pillow cover fabric. It has a soft hand and a nice drape allowing for a variety of uses. Drape over the foot of a bed, a sofa back, or hang a Bauleh cloth as wall decore. No two are alike and none can be specified. Approx. 38" - 45" wide by 54" - 55" long. Made in Ivory Coast. 

Indigo Hand Spun Fabric - Washed

This Indigo Hand Spun Fabric- Washed is a vibrant and cool material. The finely woven and washed fabric is of the finest quality. It is a deep indigo blue with distinctive patterns of white tie-dyed symbols and ribboned effect. The versatile fabric makes a cozy throw for a couch or chair. It can also be made into a shawl or other garment.

Our Products

Each piece of kuba cloth is unique and image is only a representation only. Designs can not be specified. Width is approximately between 15" - 22" and length is approximately 35" - 40". Priced per one piece of kuba cloth.

Kuba cloth is just starting to become popular in the United States. Using the leaf of the raffia tree, the Kuba people of the Congo first hand cut, and then weave the strips of leaf to make pieces of fabric, often called raffia cloth. Made in Congo. 

Hand-Crafted Kuba Cloth

This magnificent fabric is made from the leaves of the raffia tree. It is one of the best examples of the ancient African tradition of raffia cloth weaving. Brilliant embroidered designs and appliques make this unique fabric stand out. In the past, European nobility displayed kuba cloth in curio cabinets as prime examples of African artistry. More recently, the masterful abstract patterning displayed in Kuba cloth served as a source of inspiration to artists such as Klee, Picasso, and Braque. Matisse was such a fan of kuba cloth that he displayed pieces of his extensive Kuba cloth collection on the walls of his studio. It takes an African craftsperson about one month to complete a small square of kuba cloth using a laborious technique that includes dying, detailed needlework, and clipping tufts. When you own a piece of kuba cloth, you truly have a piece of Africa in your home. Sizes vary but range from 60"-82" long and from 17"-24" wide. Made in Congo. 

The Kuba are a people group in the Congo that maintains their traditional ways. They create fantastic artwork and include intricate decorations on their normal everyday belongings, not just those reserved for the king. Their crafts are now some of the most beloved in Africa, particularly their cloth. Using raffia and vegetable dyes, they create these beautiful textiles that make great home decorations. They can also be used for your own crafts. Made in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. M-F171

Approx. 24" X 25". Superior quality, placemat sized Kuba Cloth M-F171

Since these are individually photographed, only 1 of each style # can be ordered. Asking for more than 1 of a style # will delay your order.

Our Products

Explore premium African fabric with the Premium Kuba Cloth – Double. Kuba cloth, made of woven palm leaf fiber, originated in what is now the Congo. This time-intensive cloth takes multiple people to make and is characterized by its bold geometric patterns. Each measures approximately 25-28" in width and 50-56" on length. 

Since these are individually photographed so only 1 of each style # can be ordered. Asking for more than 1 of a style # will delay your order.

Kuba cloth is just starting to become popular in the United States. Using the leaf of the raffia tree, the Kuba people of the Congo first hand cut, and then weave the strips of leaf to make pieces of fabric, often called raffia cloth.

**SELECTING OS (overstock) means you will get a random piece. There is no guarantee which piece you will get when selecting OS.

There are several different sub groups of the Kuba people. Each group has different and unique ways to make the fabric. Some make it thicker, longer, shorter, or with different patches. Each patch is symbolic and many times a piece has many different meanings. When kuba cloth originated there were probably no patches used, but as the cloth is brittle it is quite likely that the patches were used to repair the frequent tears. Later, each patch developed a meaning, many patterns are uniquely arranged to tell a story.

The process of making kuba cloth is extremely time consuming and may take several days to form a simple placemat size piece. The men first gather the leaves of the raffia tree and then dye it using mud, indigo or substances from the camwood tree. They then rub the raffia fibers in their hands to soften it and make it easier for weaving. After they've completed the base cloth the woman embroider it. They do this by pulling a few threads of the raffia fibers, inserting them into a needle running the needle through the cloth until the fibers show up on the opposite end. They then take a knife and cut off the top of the fibers, leaving only a little bit showing. Doing this hundreds of times forms a design. The designs are seldom planned out ahead of time, and most of the embroidery is done by memory.

The kuba people, who developed this and many other fabrics were very resistant to using European cloth; and for many years seldom used machine made fabrics. When researching this and other cloths that the kuba people developed, it is not hard to understand why they resisted the change so much. Each fabric, each pattern, and each design in traditional kuba fabrics has great meaning. On the basis of what a person wore; you could interpret much about them. Social status age, marital status, and a person's character were just a few of the things a piece of cloth symbolized to these people. Own a piece of this fabric today; not only will you be sharing in the culture of these ingenious people, but you will experience the true art of the kuba people as well. Made in Congo. M-F150

Mudcloth & Hand-Made Fabrics Flier

Authentic Mudcloth Dyed to Striking Colors

It's versatile in its uses from wearing as a blanket, decoration, or to make clothing or pillows. Full size pieces approx. 43"-45” x 64"-68". Choose from many different colors depending on what we have in stock. Made in Mali, West Africa.

Our Products

These mudcloth pieces, which are made in Mali are "Lapa" size. Approx. 38" - 45" wide x 63" - 68" long. Sizes may vary as these are hand made. Traditional African mudcloth sheets are handwoven and made one at a time. No two pieces of mud cloth are exactly alike, so the colors shown are available, but the exact patterns vary from one piece to the next. They're great for clothing, home decoration, crafts and other creative pursuits. African artisans hand-dye symbols into these fabrics in order to tell stories of their villages and African proverbs. Mudcloth has a long tradition of being used by West African warriors and hunters to camouflage themselves. Nowadays, people across the globe are wearing them to stand out and celebrate their connection to the African continent. M-F050

Best to wash by hand.

All mudcloth is individually hand spun, hand woven, and hand painted. Each piece is different. Photos shown here are representative of colors only. Plain white pieces can vary in shade from bright white to off white. There is no guarantee on the shade you will receive.

Save on your mudcloth!

Get these slightly off sized pieces for extra savings. Made in Mali. M-F055

These pieces are about 5 feet long and 40 inches wide

Authentic Mudcloth Dyed to Striking Colors

It's versatile in its uses from wearing as a blanket, decoration, or to make clothing or pillows. Full size pieces approx. 43"-45” x 64"-68". Choose from many different colors depending on what we have in stock. Made in Mali, West Africa.

bottom of page