Documenting changing fashion in Africa post-1960
This wax print hat was produced as a promotional item by ABC textiles in the 1990s. Wax print, also called Dutch wax or Ankara, has a history that is tied up with colonialism. Originally inspired by Javanese batik designs from Dutch colonies in Indonesia, Dutch manufacturers began mass producing printed textiles which mimicked the look Read More …
This calendar shows the dates of general and textile markets in the Volta Region and features images of the regional kente festival. Bought in Ho, Holta Region, Ghana by Brighton Museum & Art Gallery for the Fashioning Africa Project. Creator: unknown Place: Ghana, West Africa, Africa Date: 2017
This poster features a photo montage of contemporary hairstyles. It was collected from the Agbozume textiles market in Ghana by Brighton Museum & Art Gallery for the Fashioning Africa Project. Creator: unknown Place: Ghana, West Africa, Africa Date: 2017
This poster features a photo montage of contemporary hairstyles. It was collected from the Agbozume textiles market in Ghana by Brighton Museum & Art Gallery for the Fashioning Africa Project. Creator: unknown Place: Ghana, West Africa, Africa Date: 2017
This narrow strip woven women’s kente cloth was made by an unknown Ewe weaver. This type of cloth is called ‘Sasa’, mixed cloth or patchwork. These cloths are made up of different coloured stripes of narrowstrip woven cloth and most of the examples that make up this cloth use the ‘Kpevi’ or two stones technique. Read More …
This blouse is part of a women’s kaba outfit. A kaba and slit is a two or three piece outfit worn by Ghanaian women, consisting of a fitted blouse with wide sleeves, a wrapper skirt, and sometimes a matching headwrap. This blouse is made from narrow woven kente strips, hand stitched together, and then tailored Read More …
This is a narrow strip woven rayon kente cloth. This type of cloth is known as ‘Titriku’ or thick cloth, and always features a square block design. It is a very popular cloth design that has been woven in the Agotime region since at least the early 20th century. This example was woven at a Read More …
This men’s narrow strip woven rayon kente cloth, made by twins Fred and Richmond Akpo, is an Adanouvor or design cloth. It features motifs such as sankofa (bird looking back), tortoises, people, and geckos. This is a copy of the Akpos’ cloth that won them the 2016 Agotime Kpetoe Kente Festival weaving and design competition. Read More …
This men’s narrow strip woven kente cloth was made by Ewe weaver John Kwasi Dometi in 1980. This type of cloth is called ‘Worgbale’, or python skin. The cloth was owned by Jonathan ‘Old Man Young Boy’ Akakpo, and was created for him by the weaver who was father to Esther Dometi, Jonathan’s late wife. Read More …
This batakari shirt was purchased by Sylvanus Akakpo in 2002, in Tamale in the northern region of Ghana, whilst he was attending a West Africa Network For Peace training event in the town. A batakari or Ghanaian Smock is a plaid shirt, made from hand woven strips that are sewn together and tailored into a Read More …