Shweshwe Sample (Museum Accession Number R6104/4)
This skirt panel is made from shweshwe fabric, printed 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 a portrait of Nelson Mandela or ‘Madiba’ as he was affectionately known in South Africa. This panel comes from the ‘Madiba’ limited edition range of designs made by Da Gama to celebrate Mandela’s life. Shweshwe skirts and dresses often have a flared shapes made from a number of panels, therefore these ready made panels can be puchased and easily tailored into flared garments. Although modern shweshwe comes in a variety of bright colours, traditional blue and white designs remain incredibly popular. Collected as part of the Fashioning Africa project.
Creator: Da Gama textiles
Place: South Africa, Southern Africa, Africa
Date: 2017