Your Custom Text Goes HEre
The African Garden Collection showcases vibrant hand dyed batiks and wax prints from the Motherland.
African Remix combines the latest in African textiles with up-cycled burlap to bring you the hottest in eco-ethnic fashion. This collection is inspired by the endurance and creativity of our ancestors who as enslaved and free people survived materially and spiritually by creating something from whatever they had.
Denim is an icon of the working class. For us this collection which is crafted by mixing the many shades of upcycled denim, symbolizes the power of improvisation, hard work, and community cooperation.
The history of quilting is one of repetition and innovation. Each time a pattern is passed on to a new artisan, its new keeper brings their own creativity to it. With each new iteration, patterns acquire new meaning and greater depth. Our Heritage Collections crafted from fine quality upcycled fabrics are a continuation of this tradition.
Wheel of Freedom (WOF) Remix (first two pictures)
During the days of the Underground Railroad our ancestors used the Wheel of Freedom as a secret message to our enslaved ancestors to start packing for the journey north. We see our remix as a tribute to all those who took that journey and to those they left behind.
Jacob’s Ladder Remix
Inspired by the biblical reference, the Jacob’s Ladder pattern is sometimes referred to as the Underground Railroad – a tribute to the movement that carried slaves from the South into freedom.
Our Remix of this classic pattern incorporates upcycled denim and coordinating fabrics to create a simple, modern tote that resonates with the stories of our past. No two are alike.
The only marsupial in North American, opossums are one of the most adaptable creatures in the southern United States. This adorable children’s toy hand sewn from recycled eco-fabrics and Fair Trade African textiles celebrates tenacity and a the mothering spirit.
Quilts are available upon request.
A Short History of African American Quilting:
African American quilting and piece sewing can be traced back to West African symbolism and textile designs. Weaving was originally practiced by men, but when our ancestors were trafficked to the United States, labor was divided according to Western patriarchal standards. Women took up the mantle of quilting. They adapted African weaving patterns threaded with their experience in the country they now found themselves and resulting in a unique art form.
During slavery and the civil war, African Americans used quilting to communicate message and escape routes along the Underground Railroad running. After emancipation, Black Americans continued to use quilting and textile crafts as both a means of cultural expression and a source of income. Our mothers and grandmothers turned their scrap materials into uniquely fashioned household and clothing.
Today’s eco-friendly waste-free trends of revamping wardrobe items into one of a kind personal fashion statements are actually inspired by piece sewing styles rooted in the ingenuity of eras past.
Southern Journeys is proud to continue these traditions. And by incorporating Fair Trade textiles from our sisters in West Africa, we are using craft and commerce to improve lives both here and abroad. We are honored to share this heritage with you.
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