Vlisco deux

Dutch Vlisco Fabric Revisited:

The Lotus Skirt

A couple of weeks ago I posted about my first foray into working with authentic African-inspired Dutch Vlisco fabric and vowed to come back and post about another skirt in the works. Here it is:

 Fabric: The Dutch Java Print Vlisco 100% cotton fabric is made in the Netherlands and is influenced by African designs*. I purchased it from a lovely vendor, Angela Marcos, at her Etsy shop called LaAntigua.. Beware, going to that website is addictive.Your charge card will jump right out of your wallet and beg you to use it for some of her fabrics.

This fabric is a little different from the one I used previously. It's a Dutch Java print instead of a Dutch wax print. The Java type of fabric has a slight sheen. It looks like a polished cotton until it is washed, and then most of the sheen goes away. Also, the design is not quite as vibrant on the wrong side, but the difference is slight. 

Because both sides of the fabric show in this design, I wanted to make sure that there was no appreciable difference in the right and wrong side from a distance. Standing back and squinting at both sides of the fabric assured me that the project could be a go.

Authenticity is important with Vlisco Dutch fabrics because it guarantees quality. There are a lot of cheap knockoffs, apparently. This fabric was similar to the other I used in that the words "Guaranteed Dutch Java Print Vlisco" (the other said "Wax" instead of "Java") along with the serial number of the design are printed onto the selvedge. The selvedge on this fabric was so pretty that I incorporated it into the hem that shows on the front drape:

 

 The pattern is The Sewing Workshop Lotus Skirt, one of my fav patterns from that line. I think this is the 4th Lotus skirt I have made. It's an old pattern and I don't think it's still for sale at The Sewing Workshop's site, but you can find it on Etsy and Ebay and a few other online sources. It is an origami-type of pattern with no left side seam and an oddly-placed right side seam closure, but it works beautifully.

I made only a couple of pattern changes:
1. Shortened the skirt by 6 inches.
2. Added a lining. 

It's been fun to work with this Vlisco fabric. I love the bold prints and colors. I'm trying to stay away from Angela's site because every time I visit there I'm tempted to buy even more of this great stuff.

*Just to clarify, the fabric is Dutch but is often mistaken as African. Here's what a Vlisco spokesman says:

“Vlisco has developed through a symbiotic and very intense relationship between African consumers and traders as well as Dutch design and manufacturing since 1846,” he said. “In that sense, we see that the brand is driven by consumers and their taste, particularly that of West and Central Africa.”  

 You can read more about this interesting fabric in this New York Times article.