| The Marka people of Burkina Faso are the creators of faso dan fani, a tradition-based indigo textile woven from cotton, kapok, and indigenous silk called tuntun. Their thread is handspun, dyed, and woven on double-heddle looms into sets of striped cloth. Most of the work is completed in family workshops, with jobs assigned mainly according to gender but sometimes to skill. Women are typically spinners and dyers, while men generally weave and sew the cloth. Many of the dyes used in the production of faso dan fani have medicinal properties, and because of this the cloth is associated with healing and protection, both spiritual and physical.;The stripes of each cloth are woven to correspond to a proverb. Thus, wearing the cloth conveys a message associated with a pattern. Faso dan fani may be worn in a variety of situations to express a range of opinions and political views. It may also be sewn into traditional-style or contemporary garments for men or women. One may purchase it in the marketplace, or commission it directly from a workshop or cooperative. Its price depends upon the type of natural materials used, ranging from inexpensive cotton to moderately priced kapok to highly valuable silk. Customers pay a premium for especially fine work.;Many textile artists shun the use of synthetic materials, which means that they must have a steady supply of natural resources to create their work. As climate change and desertification increase the scarcity of these materials, we are all forced to contemplate the future of faso dan fani. |
