How is Henna Applied to the Body?

Mixing oils with powdered henna plant leaves creates a paste-like substance that we know as henna. The leaves are not hard to obtain. Today these raw materials can be bought at local markets in North Africa and throughout the Arab world. In America, they can be...

Ideal Growing Conditions for the Henna Plant

Henna plants are indigenous to desert locations around the world. They can live without water for a very long time just as they would in the desert with monsoon cycles. Growing henna at home requires that the plant be kept in a sunny spot where the temperature will...

Conclusion

The history of Morocco’s varied textiles designs is tied to the experiences and cultures of the women who inhabit domestic spaces. These women came from many different lifestyles, mixing arts like henna painting and calligraphy into the fabrics that were eternally...

The Use of Henna Dyed Textiles in Essaydi’s work

Lalla Esssaydi is a Moroccan born artist who often cites her life experiences as having a major influence on her work. Growing up, her home was a space clearly defined for women. She pulls from this imagery to discuss the culture that she lives in, and to contrast it...

Moroccan Textiles: Rural Areas

Embroidery in the more rural areas of Morocco employed rougher, less refined natural threads including animal hair, and was mixed with the dying and painting of fabrics as a decorative form. The range of styles and designs that come from these areas though is just as...

Moroccan Textiles: Urban Settings

The decoration and design of domestic textiles in traditional Moroccan culture since the early ages of trade with African, Middle Eastern and European countries is tied to its many influences of religion and culture that have grown within its borders. Moroccan...