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21

SATURDAY

Sala Damali can make a rectangle of fabric go a long way. In 1971, she took the cloth off her makeshift dormitory table, stood in front of the mirror, and wrapped her head for the first time. Impressed by the various ways Africans use cloth to catch the Kenyan breeze or shield themselves from the fierce Saharan sun, she later wrapped her wedding dress and took up fabric design as a career. Veterans of the art of body wrapping know well the several risky scenarios that can happen in the beginning—head wraps, tops, and bottoms falling off in public: the horror! But encouragement is here: In her step-by-step instruction manual, Wrap On, Damali demonstrates how to use various fabrics to create headwraps, dresses, and bathing suits. A stash of pins and practice make perfect. Damali signs her book and demonstrates in person at 2 p.m. at Yawa Books & Gifts, 2206 18th St. NW. Free. (202) 483-6805. (Ayesha Morris)