Part of the rich cultural history of Africa is reflected in the traditional textiles of the continent. As in so many other parts of the world, the textiles of Africa abound with meanings and associations, as do the finished products made with them.
On a recent trip I made to the gorgeous South African city of Cape Town, I saw first hand the variety of colors and textures available in African fabrics. Certain traditional textiles have become virtually pan-African, as many of the fabrics sold in the famous Green Market off Long Street are in fact from Nigeria. The textiles -sold either on their own or as finished garments- evinced beautiful geometric patterns and vibrant colors.
A view of Cape Town's Green Market
Another view of Cape Town's Green Market
Another side of African textiles is the meaning of the patterns and colors. To some of the African peoples the process of weaving the fabric had a symbolic meaning beyond on of tribal identity. The Dogon people of Mali consider each stage of spinning and weaving thread to represent the cycle of reproduction and resurrection. Furthermore, the colors used in certain fabrics -kente in particular- also conveyed particular meanings.
The quality and colors of African textiles are still very much appreciated. They can be used either to make traditional African garments or exotically flavored Western-style couture.
Investigate the rich tradition of African textiles with our extensive collection of traditional African fabrics and African-style fabrics. Kente cloth is one of the traditional fabrics carried at our online fabric store. Kente is a tribal cloth common to the peoples of Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo. Here are some examples.
We also carry African-themed fabrics from Western manufacturers:
