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Mudcloth of Mali: 10 Skills in 90 Seconds · Episode 9 of 10
Episode 9 / 10

Authentic vs. Imitation: Spotting the Difference

Name four physical or visual markers that help distinguish handmade bogolanfini from a commercially printed imitation.
1. Seam lines from narrow hand-sewn strips (absent on printed fabric). 2. Slight edge irregularities and surface texture variation from hand-applied mud. 3. Earth-tone-only palette of browns, blacks, and off-whites (no bright or shiny colors). 4. Faded or absent pattern on the reverse side (printed cloth shows color through to the back).
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