Documenting changing fashion in Africa post-1960
Adire eleko indigo resist dyed cloth. The design is comprised of circles in square grids with the text ‘SanumiOluwa’ which means ‘Lord have mercy on me’ in Yoruba. The pattern is created using the starch resist (adire eleko) technique: cassava paste is applied to cloth through a stencil or painted on, areas where this is Read More …
This bogolanfini, or mudcloth, is traditionally decorated by hand-painting cotton cloth with dyes, in shades of yellow, black and brown, and bleach to create distinctive geometric designs. Bogolanfini had a resurgence in popularity in the 1980s and 90s thanks to Malian fashion designer Chris Seydou. His work then inspired Western designers to include these textiles Read More …
Bogolanfini, or mudcloth, is a Malian textile dyed using complex techniques and distinctive patterns. The cloth is traditionally made by men and dyed by women, using yellow and black dyes, and bleach to strip areas of colour away. This example was made around 1970. Collected as part of the Fashioning Africa project. Creator: unknown Place: Read More …
This cloth is an example of an aso-oke style called eleya-sanyan, with an inlaid striped design in two metallic blue shades. Sanyan is a classic style of aso-oke which is woven from from anaphe wild silk, while ‘elaye’ refers to the open work holes in the cloth that form the structural decoration along with the Read More …
This piece of shweshwe fabric is produced by Da Gama. Shweshwe is a printed cotton fabric that is so ubiquitous in southern Africa that it has been called the denim of the region. The fabric features portraits of Nelson Mandela or ‘Madiba’ as he was affectionately known in South Africa, and comes from the ‘Madiba’ Read More …
This thick woollen blanket is an iconic textile in southern Africa. Originating in Lesotho, they are associated with King Moshoeshoe I (c. 1786 – 1870) who was also responsible for popularising shweshwe fabric. Basotho blankets are worn around the shoulders secured with a large pin, reminescent of the way in which Sotho men would have Read More …
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 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 …
Shweshwe is a printed cotton fabric that is so ubiquitous in southern Africa that it has been called the denim of the region. The name 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 settlers who Read More …
Shweshwe is a printed cotton fabric that is so ubiquitous in southern Africa that it has been called the denim of the region. The name 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 settlers who Read More …