Robe

Cloth woven with a tripod loom can be gifted between families, offered to influential people, or utilized as funeral shrouds. Today, the use of synthetic fibres, instead of natural handspun cotton, has become widespread. While weavers used to be almost exclusively men, women have now started adopting the technique.

Stripweaving done with a tripod loom. Mende weavers of Sierra Leone are reputed to be some of the first to use the stripweaving technique, possibly influenced by the region’s Islamization.

Wide, full-length, heavy cotton poncho-style robe with two small side panels. Long thin woven strips of light blue, dark blue, brown and off-white vertical stripes are stitched together into three large panels, then joined, the centre panel with stripes running vertical and the side panels with stripes horizontal. A neck opening in the middle of the centre panel has a stitched yolk with snap fastener, the bottom edges of robe and sleeves are hemmed with a wide band of blue cotton fabric.