Bark Cloth (Mutuba) Production in Uganda Stella Atal Seminar on - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Stella Atal Seminar on Culture in International Cooperation European Commission's Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DEVCO) Brussels 8 November 2018

Bark Cloth (Mutuba) Production in Uganda

Commonly known in central Uganda as Mutuba, bark cloth is produced from an indigenous fig tree and has traditionally been utilized to produce fabric for clothing and ornamental use. The Mutuba tree is fire resistant and widely used as a boundary marker across much of Uganda. It is also commonly used as a shade tree for coffee plantations.

Bark Cloth

The bark cloth is prepared by hand using traditional methods. The production process is time consuming and labour intensive providing community members with an income generating

• pportunity.

After harvesting the bark from the tree and boiling, the bark is then processed.

Bark Cloth Harvesting

There are five separate steps involved in the process to prepare the bark cloth. Each of the steps involve beating the bark in a particular way using a variety of different sized and different shaped hand crafted wooden mallets.

Bark Cloth Preparation

The bark cloth can also be died using a special method burying it in the mud. Over several days the chemicals in the mud react to the bark cloth to produce a permanent rich black colour before it is uncovered and thoroughly washed.

Black Dye

The mutuba trees used to produce bark cloth are very common across much of

• Uganda. The trees take 3-4

years before they can be harvested and the bark can be harvested from each tree once a year.

Mutuba Trees

The main constraint to increasing bark cloth production is not the number

• f trees, but the limited number of

craftsmen with the skills to make the cloth. The Bukomansimbi Organic Tree Farmers Association (BOTFA) Centre in Masaka in central Uganda is now training young people with the skills to produce bark cloth, but the demand remains limited to the local market.

Production Constraints

Dakossi is a new fashion label launched this week in Paris at the Africa Fashion Reception organized by Legendary Gold Limited and in collaboration with the African Union and UNESCO utilizing bark cloth procured from the BOTFA Centre in Masaka.

Increasing Demand

Dakossi produces high quality hand crafted fashionable waistcoats made in Uganda with cow horn

• buttons. The waistcoats

have been styled for men and women and are available in a variety of sizes.

Collection

Dakossi products are all hand crafted using traditional methods with minimal use of

• machines. While the highest quality

standards are ensured through strict quality

• control. All the products are made and

assembled from natural materials comprising bark cloth, cow horn, cotton and

• linen. The buttons for the waistcoats are all

individually hand crafted from the cow horn

• f Ankole-Watusi Longhorn cattle

indigenous to western Uganda.

Natural Materials

The cloth to be used for the Dakossi waistcoats is carefully selected. The bark cloth is cut into the appropriate shapes and sizes and the garments are sown together. The tailoring is outsourced to highly skilled tailors living in Kampala and subject to strict quality control measure to ensure high quality products.

Hand Crafted

The majority of tailors engaged by Dakossi for this work are refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) now living in Uganda. Many are awaiting translocation to Europe or North America in search of work and better lives.

Productive Use of Labour

Dakossi is fully registered and incorporated in Uganda and was founded in June 2018 and the objectives of the company are: 1) To produce stylish high quality fashion items in Uganda, 2) Promote production in Uganda and contribute to the equitable and sustainable development of the country, 3) Share Africa’s cultural heritage with the world, and 4) Contribute to the rebranding of Africa.

Objectives of Dakossi

Dakossi wishes to demonstrate that Africa has the capacity to produce fashionable garments and accessories to the highest international standards.

Africa’s Future…

Stella Atal Tel: +33 601142904 E-mail: S.Atal@dakossi.com Website: www.Dakossi.com

Thank You!