Would YOU Wear It Wednesday

*All these images from Pinterest*

Batik is made using a manual wax-resist dyeing technique. Certain patterns can only be worn by nobility; traditionally, wider stripes or wavy lines of greater width indicated higher rank.

The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest federally recognised tribe of the United States of America with an independent governmental body, which manages the Navajo Indian reservation.  Navajo weaving is a fine art, and weavers opt for a wide range of geometric designs.

Dutch Wax Print is made when the two sides of the cotton fabric are printed with a pattern of melted wax.  Following this, the cloth is immersed in a bath of dye that penetrates into the areas that are not covered with wax. After the wax has been washed off in varying stages, a negative image of the printed pattern remains on the cloth.

Ikat employs a resist dyeing process similar to tie-dye on either the warp or weft fibres. Bindings, which resist dye penetration, are applied to the threads in the desired patterns and the threads are dyed. When all of the dyeing is finished the bindings are removed and the threads are ready to be woven into cloth.

Ndebele’s vibrant symbols and expressions portray communications of personal prayers, self-identification, values, emotions, and marriage.

Shibori is a Japanese term for several methods of dyeing cloth with a pattern by binding, stitching, folding, twisting, compressing it, or capping.  

Shwe-shwe fabric was introduced to South Africa with German settlers in the 19^th century, but over time Xhosa women, who took a liking to the stiff indigo-dyed fabric, replaced their animal skin clothes with shweshwe. It is said to be named after the sound the skirts make when you walk.

So what was the response to our question, “Would YOU Wear This Tribal Print Trend?”

“I would, definitely.”     “I could definitely do the tops, maybe the dresses, and would attempt the leggings if I had someone else’s legs!”     “Not a fan… One of the skirts looks like the space invaders game – I’d like to ‘pew pew’ this trend away!”     “YES I would wear it!”     “The bag, bracelet and shoes: yes.  The rest: nope.  xxx”     “Some of it.  Limited though.”     “I would – the skirt, scarf, cuff, bikini.  LOVE it all!”     “Scarf and bag: yes.  Not the rest.”   “YES!”     “Definitely the black top and the scarf.”     “Yes I would wear it!”     "I would definitely find a way to wear this trend."     "Not sure I'd have the guts, even though I do like the look in limited doses."

Result:  More yesses than nos.  But in small doses this trend has a much wider appeal.