Gnawa Lila Cowrie Gris
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THE STORY
That’s right. It’s not just about the music.
There’s also fashion and style to consider. Bright tunics representing the seven colors of the culture. Embroidery stitched onto the tunics forming intricate patterns. Caps perched on the head of each musician, some with tassels that sway in unison with the movements of the body. And a detail you can’t miss are all the cowrie shells adorning the caps and the belts, rat-a-tatting against each other. It’s an ode to Gnawa’s sub-Saharan heritage. Add this visual symphony with the melodic cadences of Gnawa song and it’s a delight for the senses. -
THE PROCESS
The cotton and silk prints add texture to the digital art renderings of the Lila Cowrie design.
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THE DETAILS
Gnawa Lila Cowrie Gris
The Lila Cowrie artwork is an abstraction of
the nirvana-like state participants reach during a Lila, in which they often break into swooping dance moves, as well as the floral embroidery of the Gnawa musicians' clothing and the cowrie shells adorning their belts and hats.
Lila Cowrie Gris features a spectrum of colors against a crisp white: blue, green, pink, grey, yellow, mint, and black.
53" x 55"
80% cotton, 20% silk
Hand-finished edges
Made in Italy
Dry clean
