This is a great article by Michael Scaturro, highlighting UGANDAN BARK CLOTH. It features a short interview with Mary Barongo from the German company, Bark Cloth Uganda.
So glad that Voices of America highlighted this great material.
I pulled a few photos and quotes from the article - so click on the link below to read it in its entirety.
African Textiles
"BERLIN — Textiles made from African
barks are growing in popularity, especially in Europe. Bark from
Ugandan fig trees - the oldest fabric known to mankind - is now being
used in home design, furniture, and lighting fixtures.
Model showcases a coat from Bobby Kolade's collectioni, featured at Berlin Fashion Week (Photo: William Minke)
"Usually bark from a tree is very light, like fresh wood. And the sun
is what gives it this color. It is something you cannot control," he
explained.
"When it is in the sun it becomes darker," added Mary Barongo, co-founder of Bark Cloth, a company in southern Germany. She imports the bark from her native Uganda.
"We take the finished product from the farmers, the bark-cloth makers, and then we modify it," Barongo explained. "So what Bobby Kolade uses has been modified by us. Its natural color is reddish-brown."
The bark was named to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008. Shortly thereafter, Kolade discovered it could be used as an alternative to leather.
"When it is in the sun it becomes darker," added Mary Barongo, co-founder of Bark Cloth, a company in southern Germany. She imports the bark from her native Uganda.
"We take the finished product from the farmers, the bark-cloth makers, and then we modify it," Barongo explained. "So what Bobby Kolade uses has been modified by us. Its natural color is reddish-brown."
The bark was named to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008. Shortly thereafter, Kolade discovered it could be used as an alternative to leather.
No comments:
Post a Comment