J&O Fabrics Store Newsletter

As February rolls in, so does Black History month. Americans young and old will celebrate the many contributions African-Americans past and present have brought to this country.

Reflections of their art, history and culture are reflected in almost every aspect of our society, from our infrastructures to our fashions. As, such, the J&O Family would like to take a moment to highlight some of the beautiful African fabric prints and textile designs, both modern and traditional, that are available for our fabulous customers right here at J&O

Kente Print

Africa has long been a fertile & creative source of fabric textile & design. One of the most widely known woven fabrics synonymous with the Ashanti people of Ghana, is kente. Kente cloth is a type of cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strips. Authentic Kente was traditionally the cloth of kings, but over time, the use of this royal fabric became more widespread, becoming available across Ghana in its woven form, as well as in cotton print.

Kente is characterized by its multicolored patterns of complex designs, bright colors an

d geometric shapes. The sacred weft designs , called adweneasa, that are woven into each section of plain weave , are meant to convey the history, philosophy, ethics and moral values of both Ghana and African culture in general.

According to some tribes, weaving has many spiritual and mythical meanings behind it as well. One belief is that each stage of spinning and weaving thread is a symbolic analogy to human reproduction and resurrection. Therefore, the processes can only be done in daylight hours. To work at night would be to weave silence and darkness into the cloth.

The color of the woven fabric can also have some spiritual meaning as well. In one tribe, a white fabric used by healing women, is thought to be linked to water spirits. Although there are many meanings to the designs on the cloth, very few are directly represented on the cloth itself.

Check out our Kente prints here!

Check out our selection of African Fabrics here!

Mudcloth
Mudcloth is a hand-woven and hand-painted traditional textile craft originating in the Sahel region on West Africa. It is called "mudcloth" because of the use of natural pigments used in the painting process.

Traditional looms are used to weave thin strips of fabric that are then sewn together to create one large piece of cloth. The cloth is then ready to be dyed and painted. Various pigments are made from infusions of local leaves, roots, bark, and of course, mud. The plain cotton cloth is first soaked in an infusion of Acacia leaves to create the characteristic yellow background color. Then a variety of other natural dyes are used to paint on the cloth. The white tones are produced by using local soap to wash away the previous colors and expose the natural cotton underneath. Traditionally, mudcloth is decorated with many geometric designs, and rich earth-toned colors.
Within the last decade, we have seen the mix of modern influence on the traditional with the dying of the cloth in colors such as purple, pink, green and gold. This vibrant array offers a more diverse selection for our designers and artists, while maintaining the value and authenticity of the art of mudcloth itself. Past down from generations before, artisans of Western Africa have been producing this beautiful fabric for hundreds of years, and will continue to do so for years to come.

At J&O we carry an exotic-looking upholstery fabric reminiscent of this African mudcloth design. This is a wonderful upholstery that will lend an ethnic flavor to your home.

Check out our Mud Cloth print Upholstery here!

Check out our full selection of African Fabrics here!

Batik
Batik is a wax resist process that is thousands of years old. Practiced in parts of Africa and the South Pacific, this textile art consists of the application of layers of wax and thickened dye applied to white cloths to create a desired design.

There are two kinds of batiks, hand drawn batiks and stamped batiks. Hand drawn batik designs are drawn or painted in beeswax by hand. A tool called a canting is used to apply the wax. The canting consists of a small copper cup with a spout through which melted wax can flow out onto the cloth. The cup is mounted on a wooden or rattan handle. The size of the spout and the number of spouts may vary for different functions.
The design is drawn on the cotton fabric with a pencil. The cloth is tacked onto a wooden frame. Then taking the canting tool, the artist dips into the melted wax and begins applying it to the cloth. Once they have outlined the design, they pour on the first dye. Then the artist applies the second coat of wax, painting with wax the areas to be saved. They start with the lightest colors working toward the darkest colors waxing the front and back and the front again for each new dye color used. When they are finished with this process, they put the fabric in boiling water and melt the wax off.

In Ghana, the designs are created from hand cut stamps made from rubber, foam or wood. The utilization of traditional Adinkra symbols and popular prints that date back to the Akan culture create beautiful one of a kind patterns that are widely used and sought after still today. Various batik arts can be found on garments, home furnishings and accent pieces, as well as in bedding and wall tapestry.

Today, batik arts are often seen on the streets of America. They can be found on unisex garments, home furnishings and accent pieces, as well as in bedding and wall tapestry. The old patterns are being replaced by imaginative designs of all sorts, and batik is now made into many different kinds of beautiful clothing and decorative household items.The trend today is to decorate the fabric in whatever way the artist wants. Some have even incorporated the art of tye & dye for an extra special affect.

Check out our Batiks here!

Check out our selecton of African Fabrics here!

Indigo Dyed Cloth
Traditionally the main ingredient used in indigo dying is dried balls of crushed leaves from indigo bearing plants and ash. The cloth is dipped repeatedly in the blue fermented dye, exposed briefly to the air, and then reimmersed. The number of dippings and the strength and freshness of the dye determines the intensity of the resulting color.

After the dyed cloth is dried, it is customary to beat the fabric repeatedly with wooden beaters. This process presses the fabric and creates a shiny glaze. Each print is as different and as creative as the last. Whether created on light weight cotton or heavy, napped cotton, the process is the same. The look …beautifully unique.

African Waxed Prints

Wax printing has been a tradition in Ghana, West African for decades. To this day, these beautifully depicted and intricately designed fabrics are considered prestigious and hold a high social value in some circles. The most popular designs are often named after a particular event, significant animal or aspect of nature, or cultural symbol. An example would be Gyne Nyme, in which the design references the Adinkra symbol representing the Omnipotence of God. Wearing this cloth acts as a cloak of protection and respect for the Creator of man.

Artistically symbolic and uniquely designed on 100% cotton, waxed print cloths play an important role in daily life and have significant communicative value; indicating status or wealth and conveying messages as a means of non-verbal expression.

Traditional African textiles and dress have always carried symbolisms, and as a result, have become powerful vehicles for mass communication, ceremonial events, political stances, and social purposes as well. An example is a cloth featuring the proverb " Weni behu naaso w'ano enntumin nnka" ("Your eyes can see, but your mouth can not say"), which means that not all issues are suitable for public discussion.

They are worn by men, women and children alike. As the fabric has made its way into the mainstream market, it has become more common to see them used in lifestyle pieces, making them a cultural, yet fashionably stylish fabric as well.

Vibrant in color with a soft suttle shine, waxed African prints are ideal for all manner of creative textile projects. They can be seen in crafts, house decor, bedding and home accent pieces and accessories. Some are printed with a metallic accent for a more elegant look and feel.

Celebrate Black History Month all year long by bringing a little bit of African-American culture home for your next craft project today. With our African print fabrics you can go from Mt. Kilimanjaro to the Great Pyramids of Egypt in the comfort of your own home!
Find out more about the Golden Fawohodies African print here!

Find out more about the Dweni Ni MMen African print here!

Check out our full selection of African Wax & Metallic Fabrics here!

Check out our selection of Brocades here!

Posts by J&O Fabrics Store

Labels: africa, african print, african-fabric

By now you should be gently versed in not only the art of wrapping your hair
(see our article on geles), but also with the many names used to describe the ancient and modern form of wrapping your body as well (see our article on sarongs).

Now we are going to give you a crash course in the how to of creating that perfect sarong for dress or leisure. These quick and easy instructions will have you crafting your own personal style from your closet of fabric treasures in no time. Remember, it is our differences that make us unique. So let yourself be creative. At J&O, we strive to deliver an array of designs & prints to match your individual tastes. Many in 45-60" length . Let's get started.

Step One:
Step in front of your sarong.

Step Two:
Pull the ends evenly forward and let the fabric sit on your waist. If you have a fringed sarong, let the unfringed end be the one you pull around your waist.

Step Three :
Tie ends around your waist and secure a knot on your hip.

Viola, your done!
Not too bad right?
Now let's try another look.

This one is a fashionable substitute for the beach bunny in you. From the sea, to dinner by the sea, this versitile look is just what the on-the-go woman needs.

Step One:
Pull the ends of the sarong forward so that the material lies flat across your upper back.
Keep ends even in length.

Step Two:
Gather ends and tie once across your bust. Pull gently to secure. If you are going for more of a wrapped look, then continue around until you are close to the end of one side of the fabric. Keep enough free to either tie or tuck .

Step Three:
Bring ends up and over your shoulders or simply secure around your chest as noted in the diagram. The second option mirrors the steps taken in securing your waist sarong.

Step Four:
Tie behind your neck & knot once if desired or tie around your chest in the front or on the side to obtain the desired look.

Once your dress sarong is complete, accessorize as you seem fit. Dress it up with heels and jewlery for a night on the town, or dress it down with flip flops and a sun-hat for fun in the sun. And the versitility doesn't stop here. Use that same fabric to wrap your hair, create a babies sling to wear across your body, use it as a shawl, a tablecloth, an accent for your couch, even tie up your belongings in it and use it as a carry bag ....bohemian style! Throw it in the wash at the end of your journey for a brand new start the next day.

Check out our selection of colorful African Prints here.
Check out our selection of assorted Novelty Cotton Prints here.

Posts by J&O Fabrics Store

Labels: african print, Fabric, fabrics, lapa, novelty cotton, sarong, wrap skirt