Cushion Melody

398 €

Through Behomm we’ve met many inspiring people, like Birgitta de Vos, artist from the Netherlands. Tireless traveller, Mali is a country she has visited and ended up creating the AAAA project with Lidewij Edelkoort, Haram Sidibe, Sam IJsbrandy and more people to support the local community by creating pieces like this cushion.

This is a Bogolan textile art piece. A traditional Malian handmade cotton fabric dyed with fermented mud.

Creating a Bogolan is a intensive cooperation between people. All stages are done by hand. From picking the cotton, spinning, weaving, dyeing and painting. They use locally grown herbs to dye and mud from the Niger river to paint the patterns.

The native plants used hold medicinal properties. Traditionally the cloth is believed to have the power to absorb dangerous forces released in life-threatening circumstances. That is why a Bogolan is also referred to as ‘medicine cloth’.

Their ancestors taught them to make patterns holding a variety of protective and beneficial properties. AAAA added a contemporary twist. Their symbol language is filled with meaning to support wellbeing during our passage through life.

AAAA is supported by the Ethical Fashion and Lifestyle Initiative.


DESIGN AND HANDMADE: 
Atelier Autodidacts Anti-Algorithms (AAAA)

Made in Mali

* Sold with no cushion filling for sustainability, to avoid the shipping for a common filling you can buy nearby.

MATERIALS
Cotton dyed and painted with herbs and fermented mud

MEASURES
100 cm width x 100 cm height approx.
800 gr approx.

INSTRUCTIONS
Dry clean only.

Do not expose to water. Take care with light coloured clothes, since, if the cushion gets wet and you lean against it with a white blouse, it could stain the blouse.

Iron at a low temperature. Do not use the dryer.

* Please note that as handmade pieces they all have imperfections and vary among them. You will not receive an exact replica as in the photo shown; each piece is unique.