My current obsession: Dutch Wax Cloth

As soon as I saw this darling ottoman, I was obsessed. I am beginning to amass a collection of gorgeous custom-made (and store bought from the Cote d'Ivoire fabric collection produced a couple of years ago by Zachary's Smile in SoHo and also sold at Anthropologie) Dutch wax print dresses with fabric from various places in Harlem, Africa and The Netherlands. (including an Obama dress with fabric from Mali!)

Thankfully, my academentia endeavors have paid off and I had a bit of extra cash so I ordered it, and thank goodness because it seems to be getting some press, and who knows if it will sell out?

The ottoman, here:

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?pushId=HOME-FURNITURE&selectedProductSize=&id=063174&sortProperties=&navCount=30&isProduct=true&templateType=&catId=HOME-FURNITURE&fromCategoryPage=&selectedProductSize1=&prepushId=&popId=HOME&isSubcategory=&subCategoryId=

and here:

http://nymag.com/shopping/bestbets/68063/index1.html

Here is info on a designer who makes LOVELY clothes with this material:

http://concreteloop.com/2009/08/designer-spotlight-maya-a-lake-of-boxing-kitten?cp=3

And info about the complex history of these textiles which were part of colonial networks of industrial production, from a scholar:

http://www.international.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=67940

And here is an article on one of my favorite artists, Yinka Shonibare, who uses wax cloth in his work:

http://www.artnews.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=1202

In one of his recent videos, a dancer is shown wearing a gorgeous dress in which the print includes the Chanel logo. As I am going to Amsterdam next month, I planned to scour the fabric market for this print, which I covet. Right now I have dresses with floral patterns but also an old school Walkman and high-heeled shoes. (the latter two from Senegal) Sadly, the Chanel print was custom-made for the artist. I would die to rock that.....