When it was published twenty-one years ago, The Bluest Hands was largely seen as a window into the history of gender, local production and colonialism in West Africa.  While it is still used by historians of gender, labor and colonialism the book has also inspired projects in completely unexpected fields such as art and design. Equally important, it remains the inspiration for the course I offer on Dress, Cloth and Identity in Africa and the Diaspora. In this presentation, I will highlight the evolution of the course and new trends in the history of African textile production and consumption.