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The traditional cloth of Mali is called bogolan or bògòlanfini, known here as mud cloth.
 While traditionally worn as clothing, mud cloth is now crafted into many different types of items including the funky
drawstring handbags we call "bogo bags", passport bags and a fashionable shoulder bag.
(Please see our Mud Cloth Toys page for stuffed elephants and giraffes!)
Traditionally men weave the white cotton and women create the intricate designs, although the roles have
become interchangeable today.
It starts out as hand spun cotton, made on site. Then an elaborate process of dying with the mud and bark takes place.
The dying, pattern cutting and sewing of these bags is done by the women.
In the photo (left) we see an artisan adding "bleach" to an area that does will remain white.
This substance has only a tiny bit of what we know as bleach in it, and is mostly made from a plant-based substance.
It is said that mud cloth was first discovered when a hunter chased an antelope into a river and got mud on his tunic.
When his wife tried to clean the tunic, she could not remove the mud stains.
This river was in the northern part of Mali and it is from this region that the
mud is "harvested" for use in mud cloth because of the particular acid and mineral levels found in this region.
Colors are earthy colors, such as browns, ochre, brownish yellows and designs are varied.
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Mud Cloth Passport Bag |
MALI-MUD-PASSPORT |
$14.00 |
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Passport bags are strung with a nylon cord so they can be worn around one's neck, and they have a simple zipper top.
Bag is large enough for passport and cash (but plane tickets would need folding);
it's about 6" wide, and 8" high with a 21" string strap.
Colors are earthy colors, such as browns, ochre, brownish yellows and designs are varied. |
On the left are the 2 sides of a mud cloth bag, to show you more of the great variety of artistic designs.
If you have a preference for the type of color bag, you can tell us in the "Special Instruction" area at checkout.
To the right is a picture of Fatim Bouare, who coordinates our mud cloth artisans in Mali, holding an assortment of the passport bags.
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Bogo Bag $22.00
MALI-BOGOBAG
Bogo bags are about 7-8" high.
They have a woven straw base, with a mudcloth top and a few cowrie shells for decoration. Leather pull ties.
Perfect for an evening event, they're shown here next to a phone, wallet and
keys which would all fit inside plus other small necessities, such as lipstick.
(Sorry - the Brown/Natural is out of stock.)
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Basin Sacs $40.00
MALI-BASINSAC- RND (Round) or SQR (Square)
These fun shoulder bags come in both square and round versions. Strips of mud cloth are interwoven with a
silk blend fabric, creating a cloth called basin, that is softer and allows for brighter colors.
Our basin bags have a small change purse attached on the inside!
The straps are made from the same silk blend fabric as the bag.
The Round bag's strap ties at the top of the shoulder and is about 30" long,
whereas the Square style has a traditional strap, about 18" long.
Bags are approximately 13" wide; the Round bags are about 14" high and
the Square bags are about 17" high. Colors are mostly earth tones; designs vary and sizes will vary.
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Other African products include
mud cloth stuffed animals,
grass baskets from Ghana,
and
jewelry from Burkina Faso, Ghana, & Mali.
Did you know that life expectancy in Mali is about 49 years?
More facts about Mali and West Africa can be found at the
CIA Factbook site.
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Batavia, NY 14020
Tel: 585.343.4490
Fax: 585.344.3551
E-mail: sales@oneworldprojects.com
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