I'm a true fan of intricate and colorful Guatemalan fabrics. Each Guatemalan textile is one-of-a-kind because it has been hand loomed by an artisan using their own unique skill set and supplies.
photo credit: Morrissey Fabric

Guatemalan Fabrics are stunning as focal points among a monochromatic setting. A single pillow like the one seen here from Drift and Nest can add loads of personality to an interior space. Or, you can mix several Guatemalan textiles for a spirited and lively look.
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Guatemalan textiles aren't just for interior spaces. Typically made of 100% cotton, Guatemalan cloth can be used outside as well.
Luna_Zorro is a master at designing outdoor rooms with Guatemalan cloth.
As seen above.

Guatemalan textiles come in neutral shades as well as indigo blues. So if you aren't into vibrant colors, there are plenty of earth tone hues available as well.
​Photo credit Morrissey Fabric

The Guatemalan cloth I carry in the shop is primarily vintage. The Guatemalan fabric seen here was originally a skirt. The raised embroidery detail is called a randa. A randa is the decorative surface embroidery or crochet that is used to disquise the cloth seams.

This interesting Guatemalan textile is unique in that you could use either side as the face of the cloth. This feature certainly lends versatility to the Ikat fabric with a colorful randa.

Vintage Guatemalan textiles can be used to create accessories like pouches and tote bags. The indigo Ikat seen here should inspire all sorts of design ideas! Cord charger pouches available at MorrisseyFabric..etsy.com

So if Guatemalan hand loomed cotton cloth looks like a textile you want to design with, be sure to take a look at the wide selection available in the Morrissey Fabric shop. If you don't see exactly what you are searching for, send me a message or an email so I can keep an eye out for your dream Guatemalan textile.
photo credit Luna_Zorro.

Rustic indigo blue textiles mixed with soft white elements look casual and inviting. A soft denim blue area rug anchors the space where several African indigo pillows and a throw are placed as accents.
​Photo credit: the woven home

Seen here from another angle, you can't help but admire how Pure Salt Interiors has adapted vintage African indigo with fringe as colorful throws. It's hard to imagine that these African indigo textiles once worn as garments now give color and personality to the space.

One of my favorite display tricks for vintage African indigo textiles is to use a natural branch and string as my hanging hardware! You could also use a dowel from any home improvement store if you don't have access to tree branches.
​photo credit:

Vintage African indigo adds life to any room. The resist dyed African indigo seen above is perfectly suited as a bed scarf. The vintage indigo is right at home with the Moroccan blanket and kilim rug.
​photo credit: Loom and Kiln

African indigo with shibori patterns is here to stay. Think of it like a pair of comfy jeans. It's a classic.
photo credit: studiomatsalla

Be sure to visit my shop here or at MorrisseyFabric.etsy.com for a large selection of clean, restored, African indigo textiles.

I love all things hand crafted. Typically textiles are my focus, but beaded pieces hand made by Yoruba artisans have recently caught my attention as items that can be easily displayed as wall decor. The primitive Yoruba beaded purse seen here would fit right in among other pieces of global art.
​photo credit: Morrissey Fabric

Yoruba beaded sashes and belts are decorative African accessories always intended to be stylish and make a statement. The Yoruba beaded African sashes can range in size from large, over-the-shoulder versions to smaller belts like the one seen above that is roughly thirty-four inches long by four inches wide. This smaller size Yoruba beaded belt would be perfect for hanging by on an entry wall, in a powder room, or anywhere you have a small wall space that could use a decorative wall piece.
photo credit: Morrissey Fabric

Yoruba beaded sashes and belts come in an unlimited combination of colors. You can find just about any color to coordinate with your interior style preference. Jungalow style, global style, bohostyle, mid century-style, etc., all of these interior style trends benefit from the look of a hand made piece of African Art that can be easily hung from a simple picture hook. Whether you want a clean white bead design, or a multi-color turquoise piece, there is a Yoruba beaded sash with your name on it.
photo credit: Morrissey Fabric

African textiles can include one of a kind Yoruba beaded belts and sashes. They are usually reasonably priced therefore Yoruba beaded decorative pieces make wonderful interior focal points. Be sure to take a peak in my store or at www.morrisseyfabric.etsy.com for a nice selection to choose from.

Large Yoruba beaded pieces, or smallerYoruba beaded belts will compliment your next design project. The only question is, what color will you choose?

Global style: Anderson Cooper's home has a casual yet well designed aesthetic due to a combination of natural elements. Wood materials in an unfinished or primitive state, a loosely woven sea grass rug, plant life, and of course my favorite, African indigo pillows, all exude warmth and graceful style.

Vintage African indigo like this amazing example can be used as-is. Or, cut into several African indigo cloth pillow covers. Hand loomed African indigo with the twisted and hand knotted fringe still in tact is always a pleasure to find.
​photo credit Morrissey Fabric

Hanging an African indigo from a wooden pole or a natural branch is a stylish and practical way to decorate a blank wall. Colorful kilim pillows are right at home with the faded African indigo textile draped over the sofa seat cushion. I always say that denim goes with everything. The same is true of vintage African indigo textiles.
​photo credit: Indian Tan

At Morrissey Fabric I offer a complete selection of African indigo textiles. I search out every color, pattern, and price range imaginable. If you don't see what you are looking for, be sure to message me so I can find that perfect African indigo textile for your project. I have many different sources for my authentic vintage African fabrics, so even though each is unique, I can probably find something very close to the indigo fabric you are searching for.

Have a photo of your own African indigo in use? Message me s photo and I just might share it in an upcoming blog.
photo credit: Morrissey Fabric
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Vintage African indigo comes in an endless variety of indigo blue from the super faded to nearly black. Not only do the shades of indigo vary, the patterns created from tie dye and other resist-dye techniques are endless too.  As one might imagine, the skill of the artisan comes into play, but so does the region and era from which the African indigo textile originates.  For the purpose of this post, I will touch briefly on the aesthetic differences so my readers might know when they come across a very unusual example of African indigo rather than a more common cloth.  I hope to share some knowledge as to why some African indigo textiles cost more than others.
Photo credit: Morrissey Fabric

The first two photos seen here show examples of vintage African indigo textiles that I uncovered while shopping with an African Textile dealer known to carry uncommon pieces for the collector.  Sometimes the African indigo fabrics are in relatively good condition.  Even so, I always have to launder and spot clean them no matter what the price tag.  It's also common that the vintage African indigo cloth requires several hours of repair work to reconnect the strips of cloth.  I use 100% cotton indigo dyed thread when making any repairs to these beautiful textiles.  
Photo Credit: Morrissey Fabric

The African indigo seen in this photo is very faded.  This is highly desirable not only for the relaxed and calm appearance it exudes, but because it shows age.  These very light African indigo textiles are out there, but more often than not, they are in rough shape.  Typical they have multiple torn areas, the fringe is missing or completely frayed, and they have palm oil, grease, and dirt stains.  Many people like the aged distressed look, but most don't want the vintage cloth to be soiled to the point where it has a bad odor.  This is where time and expertise come into play.  I've seen many salvageable African indigo pieces ruined by someone who tried to use too much bleach to clean or fade the antique textiles. Don't use bleach! Oxiclean or 24 hours of soaking in a gentle textile soap like wool light is best.

These very light vintage African indigo fabrics are rare enough that they will become more valuable with time and are therefor quite collectible.  If you find one or purchase one from my shop, I would encourage you to keep it in tact for future generations to enjoy. 

These graphic indigo pieces are a bit easier to find than some the other patterns out there, but they can be equally stylish.  I've seen dozens if not hundreds of variations on the tie-dye technique.  Interestingly, you can often tell when the artist was more skilled or perhaps just learning their technique.  Sometimes the patterns flow with grace, but other times they can look clunky and not all that visually appealing.  If you decide you want to add this style of African indigo to your collection, wait for one that speaks to you.  
Photo credit Above and Below: MorrisseyFabric

When it comes to vintage African indigo, some of my personal favorites have involved fringe.  I have restored so many pieces of African fabric that I've lost count.  However I do remember many of the battles I have had to save the ultra long fringe on a vintage indigo or two, and how pleased I was to do so.  After trial and error, I learned there is no shortcut.  I have to tie small sections of the fringe together so it won't tangle when washed.  With lengths reaching up to 18 inches long, even hand washing can cause a knotted mess.  So proceed with caution if you decide to launder a fringed African indigo on your own.  Of course, you can always send it to the dry cleaner.

Now that I've touched on some of the more unique pieces of vintage African indigo, check back next time when I'll post some photos of the more common but still lovely African indigo textiles. 

Images of Vintage African indigo aren't all that difficult to find. But searching out inspirational photos of this beautiful textile can be a bit more time consuming. Today's post will feature some of my favorite hand makers that choose to craft their wares from one-of-kind vintage African indigo and African mud cloth.
photo above: @mirablackman

Casual Boho-style clutches and pouches are an on-trend way to repurpose vintage shibori indigo. Leather and suede are perfect compliments to faded African indigo. Cute_totes used every bit of the vintage cloth by incorporating the fringe as part of the design of the bags.
​photo credit: Cute_Totes

Because African indigo has so much personality, even a simple cut looks quite stylish. It's nice to see the hand knotted fringe was kept as part of the design for the casual vest seen here.
​Photo credit: Mirablackman

Jackets made from vintage African indigo are a great way to reuse the hand loomed textiles.

African indigo style isn't just for the ladies. This handsome devil is right at home in his one-off African indigo jacket. The shibori technique used to create the dye-resist patterns in vintage African fabrics ensure that every single indigo has a unique pattern.
Photo credit: c_o_a_t_z

African indigo makes for unique loungewear too. Are these vintage indigo short sets cute or what? Also by Coatz.

I hope the African indigo textiles used in these amazing designs have inspired you to search out your own vintage textiles for repurposing.

Mud cloth from Africa, vintage or new, has a quality that can't be copied. Because mud cloth starts as hand loomed strips of cotton fabric, it has an inherent textural feeling. Vintage mud cloth strips were joined with hand stitching. New pieces are stitched by zig zag machines.
photo credit: Anita Morrissey

Mud cloth in earth tone colors has become very popular for upholstery, pillows, wall art as well as totes and purses. Warmth and character are instant when you add any of these gorgeous mud cloth fabrics to a project.
​photo credit: Anita Morrissey

Need some style inspiration? You don't have to look far to find all sorts of African mud cloth images. Instagram and Pinterest are good places to start.

Vintage or new African mud cloth is a pleasure o work with. The hand loomed cotton can vary from tightly woven refined mud cloth, to loose and less high quality mud cloth. You can choose what works best for your project and taste.
​Photo credit: Anita Morrissey

Guatamalan Fabrics are colorful, hand loomed, and full of style. I have collected Guatemalan ikats and embroidered fabrics because of the highly intricate weaving they possess.
​Photo credit: Kakaw Designs

Vintage Guatemalan fabrics are incredibly detailed as seen in the photo closeup of a huipile. A huipile is an indigenous top worn by village women,
​photo credit: Anita Morrissey

Guatemalan huipiles are of simple construction since it is the intricate weaving and embroidered fabric that are the focal point. I picked up this lovely Guatemalan Huipil from a textile dealer that visits the smaller villages several times a year.
​Photo Credit: Anita Morrissey

Colorful vintage Gautemalan Nahuala, or sash, adds decorative texture and style to village women's attire. Given the hours, days, and sometimes months it takes to weave Guatemalan textiles like these, it's no wonder they are gaining popularity.
​Photo credit: Drift and Nest

Guatemalan fabrics can be repurposed into shoes, bags, pillows, or whatever you can imagine. I'll write more about Guatemalan Ikat in a future post.
Photo credit: Kakaw Designs

Be sure to visit my shop for a nice selection of carefully curated vintage Guatemalan fabrics.

African Kuba cloth is incredibly beautiful and has been used for a variety of decorative end-uses over the years.  It's a hand made African textile that is created with raffia fibers originally crafted for use as decorative skirts. The pillows pictured above are made from smaller pieces of Kuba cloth that feature Shoowa cut-pile embroidery, from the Congo, Africa. These are but one of the types of Kuba cloth to be found.

Since African Kuba cloth is hand crafted to be worn on the body, it is a pliable textile. Because of the workable nature of these Africa raffia fabrics, they are well suited for upholstery and pillows.  The pillows shown here are made from appliquéd Kuba cloth that was also originally made to be worn as skirts. African Kuba cloth pillows add a global look to this clean contemporary space.

An appliquéd skirt of the Bushoong Kuba people is another style of Kuba cloth.  This light color raffia textile is quite difficult to find in clean, workable condition.  Above is a clever way to patch smaller pieces of Bushoong Kuba cloth back to vintage African indigo cloth.
Photo credit @IndieBungalow

Shoowa cut-pile embroidery, from the Congo, Africa. is used to great effect in the pillow above.  I do have to put a warning out there if you decide to try making a pillow out of this particular type of Kuba cloth. It can be prickly.  It is made from cut raffia fibers after all, so do keep this in mind. It's more decorative than the other Kuba cloth textiles. Photo credit: @Penny_Worrall
If you have an Instagram account, try using #kubacloth and you will likely come across a wide range of creative ways to use your Kuba cloth textiles.  And of course, I always keep a selection of these incredible vintage African fabrics in the shop.