A digital archive showcasing the extensive collection of jewellery and adornment images shared on the former Ethnic Jewels Ning site over the years. These images have significantly enriched discussions on cultural adornment and its global dispersion.

Indigo scarf with Tuareg cross embroidery

I would like to have opinions on this scarf. It is not "traditional", though the fabric and the workmanship are. We are hoping to create some scarf/ shawl designs and work with the Tuareg man who created this design for us in Niamey, Niger. We hope to create a partnership and sell his items.
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Comments

  • looks nice, my opinion is, how is looking later on when washed ? i find less of the crosses is better.

    is the indigo leaving color on hands ? is yes, will be difficult to sell.

    my experince. you have more chances when you do scarfes them for women between 1,8 and 2 m long

  • Yes, this will be 2 meters long.  We will be also doing them in tones of blue and white in fabric that will not rub off or bleed when worn.  In the photo it is modeled on a man just to show the design and fabric.  Shukran l'raik, Ait!

  • Hillary. if you do them for winter, the dark  colors are better, for spring and sommer, light colors.

    i do not go in your details , i think it is a verry good idea and you will sell a lot. i post you tomorrow some skarfs in light colors, they go ggod too

    good business i wish you inhallah

  • Thank you Ait, This is what we hope for.  We like to work directly with people who produce these crafts and create business, however small.

  • I bought a blue Tuareg scarf this Summer for vacation and wore it on a game drive over my head, when we came back my head, hair and neck were blue as it was hot and I had been transpiring......after washing the scarf the color now is completely gone, just a touch of light blue remains.

    I will never buy such a scarf again, that is my personal experiance with them.

  • :-) nice experience Marie, just that you know. the touareg scarfs with color like yours, if they are original, they are expensive, starting 40 euro a piece in sahara. they are the best of the scarfs, ofcourse you have to know to wear them and the place is also important. you can not wear eskimo cloths and go to south spain in sommer with :-)

    there is a usual cloth used for the markt in humide and cold area, they are good, more you wash them, more they are good. i ll make tomorrow some photos of new and old pieces.

    i m selling them since years and the buyers always happy

  • Yes Marie, I agree and know about this, and this is why we are going to focus on fabrics that are dye-fast, and not so much on the genuine indigo.

  • I collect Japanese indigo and their fabrics do not run. I wonder if there is a different process for setting the dye, or perhaps the indigo is a different type. Anyway, I love real natural indigo. My input on this scarf design would be to make the cross design smaller and cluster many of them together , perhaps along the edges or the ends. Great idea for a scarf though and I like the cross design shape.

  • I believe the Tuareg beat the indigo dye into the cloth rather than mixing it with water,I think that is the reason it comes off on the skin. I do like the color and the lustre which comes from the beaten indigo rather that the water based dye mixture. It is more of a lustrous purple rather than what I consider a rather boring dark indigo blue. I agree , the pattern should be smaller and concentrated on the edges -- it will display better that way. How about some real henna dyed cloth as well, l love that color.

  • I believe that Patti is correct.  The Tuareg indigo is saturated with the dye, and it does come off on the skin.  If I remember correctly, it is considered a form of sunscreen and this is where the epitaph "blue men of the desert" comes from.

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