Man's cloth Date Unknown

This woven textile, a man’s cloth, was made by an Ewe artist and is composed of cotton and rayon. The cloth features a grid-like design with blocks of horizontal bands separated by vertical blue lines. The complex process of creating such a textile involves the labor of spinning, dyeing, and weaving. The weavers create strips of fabric, sometimes using a double-heddle loom, and then sew them together edge to edge to form the larger cloth. The colors themselves were originally derived from natural sources, but now often incorporate synthetic dyes, a shift that reflects changing global trade patterns and economies. This textile represents the skilled traditions of the Ewe people, who are known for their expertise in weaving elaborate and meaningful textiles. The amount of work involved in the production process reflects the value placed on these cloths, not only as objects of beauty but also as symbols of cultural identity and social status. Paying attention to the materials, making, and context of this cloth helps us to understand its full meaning, questioning the separation of art and craft.