Dida Plangi or Tie-Dyed Dance Skirt

Tied, dyed and untied. The pattern is what the knots left behind.

This plangi or tie-dyed dance skirt is Dida, from Ivory Coast in West Africa, 20th century, in dyed raffia. Dida weavers are known for tubular raffia cloths, patterned by tying off sections before dyeing, and such garments were worn for dances and ceremonies. Rows of puckered rounded shapes in yellow and rust fill much of the surface, each one still ridged from its binding. A broad panel of darker red and tan runs down one side. A row of knotted balls hangs from the lower edge. It is 22 inches wide and 27 long.

It looks like it would move well, and it was made to.