Documenting changing fashion in Africa post-1960
This fabric is called shweshwe, an iconic printed cotton textile that is so popular it has become known as the denim of southern Africa. The name shweshwe is derived from King Moshoeshoe I of Lesotho (c. 1786 – 1870) who first popularised it. It is also known as German cloth after the Swiss and German Read More …
This calendar printed on cotton was produced by Da Gama to promote their range of shweshwe fabrics. Shweshwe, or German cloth as it is also known in some areas, is a printed cotton fabric that is so ubiquitous in southern Africa that it has been called the denim of the region. This calendar features examples Read More …
This wax print shirt was given to the donor as a gift by his hosts when visiting the University of Ghana. The design is an example of traditional Indonesian influenced wax print. Also called Dutch wax or Ankara, wax print has a history that is tied up with colonialism. Originally inspired by Javanese batik designs Read More …
This pair of sandals are made entirely from recycled car tyres. In Kenya, and many other countries in Africa, the practice of making leather sandals has a very long history. Since the arrival of cars, makers have adapted their leather working skills and utilised rubber from tyres. People found that the rubber from car tyres Read More …
This pair of sandals are made entirely from recycled car tyres. In Kenya, and many other countries in Africa, the practice of making leather sandals has a very long history. Since the arrival of cars, makers have adapted their leather working skills and utilised rubber from car tyres. People found that the rubber from car Read More …
This wax print jacket 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 wax print dress 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 wax print skirt 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 wax print skirt 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 …
These wax print trousers were 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 …