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 imported the cloth to South Africa. Traditionally blue and white, modern shweshwe comes in a variety of bright colours such as this orange and pink peacock design. Collected as part of the Fashioning Africa project.
Creator: Da Gama Textiles
Place: Zwelitsha, Eastern Cape, South Africa, Southern Africa, Africa
Date: 2008