Mali Chic
Perfect perched in a hallway or at the end of a bed, when I first saw the image of this embroidered bench I thought it had beaded detailing across seat area, such is the effect of the textured pattern from afar. Beautifully and skillfully woven, the textile covering is made from cotton upholstered onto a wooden bench frame handmade by the artisans of Mali Chic, a boutique and workshop based in Bamako, Mali. Mali Chic works with a network of over 195 local artisans; to produce a diverse range of traditional and contemporary home décor, furniture, fabrics, clothing, jewellery and personal accessories for export and local markets. The business aims to take the traditional skills and heritage of Malian crafts and combine them with contemporary design influences, as seen in products like the Dogon Door Table, Bogolan Ottoman and Bozo Baskets. Mali Chic also offers a bespoke service for those with a specific design or fabric in mind. 

Mali Chic was set up in 1998 by Elaine Bellezza, an American designer who in addition to design and producing products ran training programmes for her employees and the local artisans she worked with, equipping them with the skills needed for the effective handicraft production and design. In 2006 Elaine turned over control of the business to the five employees and since then the business has continued to grow, currently employing a staff of 14 in addition to the artisans, who work from home, in their own workshops or in the Mali Chic workshop. Elaine went on to set up a gallery in Santa Fe New Mexico, but still maintains contact with the boutique, running development workshops and assisting with new product designs when she visits.

Le Ndomo
Creating beautiful richly patterned fabrics using natural dyes, Le Ndomo is a social enterprise that was set up with the aim of addressing the issues relating to youth unemployment in Mali.

Le Ndomo embodies the philosophy of teaching the young people a technical skill, training those taking part in the programme with the local knowledge of fabric creation, skills that go into creating the fabric ranges Le Ndomo produces. Le Ndomo endeavours to instil the values of traditional African society within the young people they work with, and encourages participants to strive for personal development through the enhancement of personal values like responsibility, personal commitment and teamwork in achieving desired goals.

Using 100% organic cotton, fabric is woven in the traditional style as well as also employing contemporary looms for wider fabric. Le Ndomo has conducted extensive research into the use of vegetable dyes and the designs produced, including some stunning geometric ones, use natural dyes mixed through different techniques such as Basilan which gives yellow ocher and brown; Bogolan which gives black, brown and yellow ochre; Gala which gives different shades of blue from natural indigo and Green which is obtained by adding Basilan yellow ocher to Gala Indigo blue. The printed fabrics are then used to produce fashion accessories such as scarves and home furnishings like cushions, throws and runners. Le Ndomo also offers workshops and lecturers upon request for those wanting to learn and find out more about natural dyeing.

…naturally beautiful fabrics

Akoubakar Fofana
When I lived in Harare, Dendera Gallery in the city centre was a favourite haunt of mine. Close to the studio I worked in, I would spend many a lunch-time browsing and occasionally buying from the fascinating collection of art sourced across the African continent. I fell in love with the beautifully dyed authentic Indigo fabrics, and to this day kick myself for having not bought one… I'm not sure why I didn't as I kept saying I would, I guess I got caught up in my move to the UK. I still think of them every now and then, even more so whenever I see a feature on Malian artist and Indigo master craftsman, Aboubakar Fofana. It’s the colour that gets me every time; that gorgeous shade of indigo. Blue is my favourite colour; brilliant deeply pigmented hues of blue like ultramarine, azure, cobalt and cerulean; the first colours to get quickly used up in my pastel and watercolour boxes.

Born in Bamako, Mali Aboubakar Fofana is a textile designer, calligrapher and artist who has lived in Paris for over thirty years. Passionate about the preservation of the Malian cultural heritage of Indigo dyeing Aboubakar found himself increasingly intrigued by the Indigo plant and the benefits of using natural plant and mineral dyes in general. His research drew him into exploring the roots of indigo fabric in Malian culture, discovering the traditional techniques; and deepening his knowledge. The artist is also working on the revival of the indigo plant, which has gradually been abandoned in favour of chemical dyes that have had a catastrophic effect on ecosystems.

Aboubakar has chosen to concentrate on natural organic fabrics that can take the vegetable and natural dyes and his experiments have led to unique works of art for clothing and décor accessories. The fabrics are further enhanced by hand made stitching and finishings. Ever the scholar Aboubakar’s interest has seen him collaborate with well-known Senegalese-based textile designer Aissa Dione on a textile accessories range; and has taken him far a field to Japan to study under the tutelage of master dyer AKIYAMA Masakazu to learn about Japanese indigo. Visit Amaridian gallery online for a fascinating pictorial giving an insight into the indigo dyeing process.

...simply stunning, just my kind of blue!

Tamacali
Tamacali is a creative enterprise that draws on the ancient jewellery traditions of Malian Dogon, Tuareg and Togolese tribes. Seeking to bring together the talented artisans from these tribes Tamacali was founded in 2005 by Tetou Gologo, a Malian contemporary artist and the enterprise produces some amazing jewellery pieces that have a fresh modern feel without losing the heritage of the past.

With the desire to develop a great Malian company owned by a woman, Tetou herself draws inspiration from the sights, sounds, smells and colours of a vibrant energetic Mali and says her designs reflect herself as a Malian woman proud of her past, walking proudly in the present and looking to building the future. Working as an artist Tetou came to jewellery design by chance when accompanying some friends who wanted to explore Mali, and found herself in an Aladdin’s cave surrounded by assorted objects and trinkets included pearls, which she was familiar with from her Grandma, her mother’s and aunts collections.

Tetou and the artisans she employs, work with various materials including: silver, ebony, bronze, leather; along with pearls, colourful stones and beads in assorted shapes and sizes. All gathered from various sources and combined to create unique, beautiful and eye-catching symmetrical and asymmetrical jewellery. Local know-how and tradition appear in the form of style inspiration and detailing such as the clasps used, which were inspired by an accessory for horses hailing from the Dogon country; this is now a defining hallmark of Tamacali jewellery.

Tamacali is ultimately about teamwork, solidarity and reflecting Mali with each piece that is created, so not only working to preserve a heritage the artisans earn living of five times the Malian minimum wage and this has seen some use the money to attend school. Tamacali also provides employees with medical services, annual vacation and daily meals. I am a bit of a magpie when it comes to beads and all things jewellery related and having created jewellery myself I can appreciated the time, effort and skill that goes into making each piece.

 ... some of these designs are just simply regal.

La Maison Rouge
The BBC recently did an 8 part series entitled Human Planet, exploring man’s relationship with nature in the world today. Beautifully shot, the series looked at diverse environments such as: cities, rainforests and mountains. Unfortunately I caught it near the end of its run, but managed to see the episode featuring deserts. This episode looked in part at the annual re-plastering of the Great Mosque in Djenne, Mali - a day-long festival involving the community. Re-plastering annually is necessary as heavy seasonal rains can 'melt' the fragile structures.

The largest adobe (mud-brick) building in the world and a stunning example of the local architecture, the mosque is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s most famous landmarks drawing visitors from around the world. 

It was a combination of the programme and the recent post I did on malene b’s carpet’s that got me searching what Mali has to offer, eventually ending up at several beautiful places including La Maison Rouge (The Red House) in Mopti, named for the red clay found locally which gives the buildings their distinctive colour.

La Maison Rouge is a stunning boutique hotel comprising 14 uniquely styled rooms that offer guests a contemporary take on Dogon culture, two of which are 'open to the stars'. Tucked away in a backstreet, the hotel is inspired by local architecture but also laid out like a riad, with serene courtyards and gardens that allow you to relax in style. The hotel has been described as a haven for those looking for quiet after a busy day of sightseeing, and to take advantage of this head upstairs to the Moroccan Lounge where you can relax on the terrace overlooking the garden, or cozy up by the fireside and indulge in some tea and pastries.

You can choose to dine in the vast vaulted restaurant, on the patio or in the garden, sampling gourmet Malian and French cuisine freshly prepared for you and includes produce straight from the garden.

Yéleen Design
Age-old traditional hand weaving techniques unite with innovative materials to produce a beautiful array of interior and exterior textiles courtesy of Yéleen Design. Formed in 2003 and located in Bamako, Mali; Yéleen Design is the creation of respected designer Aida Duplessis.

Aida experiments with weaving organic cotton with natural fibers such as vetiver, flax, hemp; and even seaweed and nettle to produce clean simple lines that add to the aesthetic appeal. Traditional weavers work to reproduce the designs across carpets, cushions, rugs and throws; in a range of sublte and rather soothing colour palettes. A new collection of exterior furnishings sees recycled vinyl woven with cotton, upholding the company’s commitment to enhancing ethical awareness and sustainability.

Yéleen Design works to combine tradition and innovation and provide the discerning customer with contemporary home furnishings that are tasteful, creative, original and chic.

L’Artisan Parfumeur - Timbuktu
In a collection inspired by travels and capturing the sweetest, familiar scents found across the globe; Timbuktu is the second fragrance of master parfumeur, Betrand Duchaufour’s L’Artisan Parfumeur travel collection. With a passion for capturing elusive scents that invoke a sense of place, Betrand has spent time travelling the world. In West Africa, Betrand was inspired by the rich scents found and the traditional art of Wusulan, the Malian art of making perfume, which captured his imagination. Wusulan is an inherited ancient art, one that has been handed down through the generations from mother to daughter as an aid to seduce and keep your beloved.

In honour of the legendary city and the Wusulan ritual, Betrand Duchaufour created the Timbuktu fragrance; a multi-layered, woody with a hint of floral and spice fragrance, adding a modern French spin. Discover top notes of Green Mango, Pink Pepper, berries, Cardamom; middle notes centred in the fragrance of the Karo Karoundé flower, the smokey incense of papyrus wood and Frankincense; and finally base notes of Patchouli, Myrrh, Vetiver and Benzion. 

Timbuktu is described as a sophisticated ultra sensual unisex fragrance celebrating beauty, nature and love - and one that lingers on the skin.

[Additional Information sourced from: Heekin, Deidre (2009:108): ‘Libation, a Bitter Alchemy’]

 
Additional Details:
Prices for 100ml Eau de toilette spray: £70 / USD$135
50ml Eau de toilette spray: £50 / USD$95
To find out more and purchase visit: www.artisanparfumeur.com
Timbuktu is also available at Space.NK.apothecary: www.spacenk.co.uk

Diallo Design
Cheick Diallo the designer behind Diallo Design studied Architure in France and whilst there discovered his love for furniture design. Diallo aims to bring a cosmopolitan view to African design by creating a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern sensuality.

Cheick Diallo works to preserve the skills of artisans in Mali, creating his award-winning furniture in his Bamako-based workshop and exporting furniture around the world. Materials used in manufacture include recycled materials gathered from the streets of Bamako such as scrap metal and cans. Cheick Diallo is also the founder of the Association of Africans Designers.