Genuine Vintage Mudcloth Kufi Hat - Mali

This is one of the hats most commonly worn by men in West Africa although it can just as easily be worn by women everywhere else in the world. In Mali, where these are made, they are called “bonnets”. Many people in the world outside of Africa know it as a “kufi”, a “koofy” or a “coofy”, a hat commonly worn by Muslims but not exclusively. It is also known as a skull cap or a beanie. The cloth is authentic. It is traditionally made mudcloth (bogolan), completely made by hand: the base cotton cloth is woven by hand on traditional double heddle drugstore looms of homespun cotton, locally grown. It is then dyed using a clay-based dye - hence the name "mud" cloth. This cloth is exceptional in that the off-white design is obtained by painting on the black background. The kufis in this group are made of mudcloth in older, more traditional designs, unlike the other mudcloth kufis we sell which - though completely traditional in process - exhibit simpler designs. The designs of this group of kufis are more intricate, more desirable. The interior circumferences of these are relatively large, varing from 23 3/8" to 24 1/2" (59 to 62 cm) making them a very good fit for most larger heads.