Vintage Guatemalan textiles come in the full range of colors. The texture of hand crafted patterns gives these unique fabrics extra depth. The additional embroidery detail stitched on top is called a randa.  This randa is a decorative way to disquise two narrower pieces of cloth joined to make one wider cloth.

The sofa above is an amazing example of how to use vintage Guatemalan corte cloth for upholstery.  The tight weave of the indigo textile almost looks like velvet.  The embroidered randa of the corte cloth was skillfully placed to balance the focal points of the upholstery work. These Guatemalan textiles are very durable so this sofa will last for many years to come.

The indigo ikat corte cloth pillows above are a personal favorite of mine.  These custom made pillows were sent to a client in Florida after hurricane Irma caused severe water damage to her home. The cheery feeling of the Guatemalan cloth is more subdued due to the dark indigo color. The colorful randa embroidery hints at at the artisan's joy in creating these corte fabrics.

Vintage corte cloth from Guatemala is hand made in many variations in many different villages.
It takes years to become an expert on where each style originates. But I rely on indigenous Guatemalan associates to assist in identifying each unique style. Each style of Guatemalan corte cloth is suited for various occasions, The green and black corte cloth above is right at home on the vintage cain-back chair.

The selection of Guatemalan textiles found in my shop varies daily. I'm always on the lookout for more vintage Guatemalan cloth to offer my on line customers.  It's a pleasure to search out and discover these hand made Guatemalan textile treasures for your home and unique design vision.

Chinese Batik textiles have been a favorite of world-class interior designers and stylists for over a century.  The durability of most Chinese batik fabrics lends itself to everything from upholstery to pillows.  Most vintage pieces of Chinese batik, also called paste-resist, were not made from cotton but rather they were woven from hemp. Hemp is extremely durable and was therefore used for bed covers and outdoor garden seating in Asia.

The large indigo blue and white Chinese batik seen above is an example of a classic Chinese hill tribe pattern. This particular type of pattern is available in many similar variations.  These batik textiles usually measure 76 to 84 inches long by 48 to 54 inches wide.  The wide width is made by sewing three narrower panels of fabric together prior to the paste pattern application and the indigo dye process. If you look closely you will see the seams. These are part of the hand-made charm of these antique Chinese batik textiles.

A wing back chair gets a whole new look when reupholstered with indigo blue Chinese batik. It's likely that it took at least two large indigo batik textiles to upholster this grand chair.  The addition of the batik pillow makes a nice compliment.

Chinese batik in gray is an update for this Chinoiserie textile. Originally indigo blue and white, a blend of hot water and various detergents turned this hemp cloth to gray. The repair patches add to the history of this vintage Chinese Batik fabric.

Vintage Chinese batik textiles sew up easily into pillows full of charm and style.  The faded pieces are nice for a rustic romantic space.  This type of Asian batik pillow also works in a coastal-style home because of the classic blue and white patterns.

For your next upholstery project consider using vintage Chinese batik textiles. These antique fabrics are usually made from hemp which is very durable.  The indigo color will hold well because it's likely the blue and white batik has already been laundered dozens of times. I have found these vintage Chinese batik fabrics to be more durable than denim.  

​Not up for an entire chair upholstered out of these lively patterns? Then consider a pillow or two for a crisp addition to a global-style space or boho abode.
An evolving selection of vintage Chinese batik textiles is available in the Morrissey Fabric on line store. Also visit the Morrissey Fabric Etsy shop to find even more one-of-a-kind artisan-made vintage Chinese batik textiles.

African indigo, popularly known as mud cloth, is created by an African artisan one piece at a time.  Even when patterns look similar, there will be differences because of the hand-made indigo resist-dye process.  The piece above has the added embellishment of an embroidery design.  This design element would be a focal point when the African indigo is worn as a shawl-like wrap or skirt.

African indigo can be found with a range of fish motifs.  The piece above is one of many such African indigo textiles I have carried in my shop. Vintage or new, the fish motif will always look unique due to the artisan's skill set.  The pattern isn't the only thing that makes each African indigo different.  The cloth weight and weave lend unique textures to the African textile as well.

African indigo is originally made to be worn.  But present day use of African indigo has gone well beyond use as a garment.  African indigo is repurposed for upholstery, bed covers, pillows, and throws.  The piece above is extra large for this type and the additional fringe makes it a more stylized textile.  An African indigo such as this would be wonderful hung on the wall or draped over the foot of the bed.

The pillows seen here are all made from vintage African indigo. Pillow covers are a great way to repurpose vintage indigo that is damaged or stained leaving only part of the cloth in good condition.  You can easily cut square or lumbar pillows from the usable pieces of the mud cloth.  Some people enjoy the distressed indigo and opt to keep them whole rather than cut the vintage textile apart. I think either use is appropriate and better than seeing the vintage textiles sent to a landfill.

African indigo is for anyone who loves blue and white or denim textiles.  Each African indigo is unique and worth preserving in some form or another.  My shop on Etsy and here at Morrissey Fabric has a large selection of these wonderful one of a kind African mud cloth textiles.  Each piece you see has been carefully cleaned. When appropriate, I repair torn areas and sometimes patch holes. Every African indigo is measured, tagged, and photographed for Morrissey Fabric.  You can count on receiving very clean vintage African textiles from the shop every time.