The Tignon Collection — The Madras Tignon (Louisiana · Haiti · Martinique) Journal

This hardcover journal features an image from The Tignon Collection — a series honoring the six African headwrap styles that free Black women in 1786 New Orleans transformed from an instrument of oppression into a crown of defiance.

The Madras Tignon takes its name from the Indian trade cloth that arrived in the Caribbean and Gulf Coast through colonial commerce — bold plaid and checked fabric in vibrant combinations of orange, red, yellow, and green. African women across Louisiana, Haiti, and Martinique claimed this fabric and made it their own — wrapping it with a skill and artistry that transformed a piece of imported trade cloth into one of the most recognizable symbols of Afro-Caribbean identity.

But the Madras Tignon carried more than beauty. The patterns inside the plaid — the colors chosen, the way the cloth was folded, the direction of the knot — held messages. Hidden in plain sight. Passed between women across three territories spanning hundreds of miles of ocean. A shared visual language that connected Louisiana to Haiti to Martinique in a web of African diasporic communication that no colonial authority could intercept.

Perfect for journaling, sketching, note-taking, or as a meaningful gift for anyone who carries their history with pride.

Product features
- Matte laminated cover for durability and reduced glare
- Full wraparound print with vibrant, museum-quality colors
- Casewrap (sewn) binding allowing flexibility and lay-flat use
- 150 lined pages (75 sheets) with perforations for easy removal
- Matte finish; small 0.5"x0.5" production barcode on back cover

Care instructions
- Use a soft, clean and dry cloth to gently brush any dust or dirt off from the center of book outwards.