Ankara
Ankara commonly known as Ankara prints or African
wax prints is a 100% cotton fabric, with lively and vibrant
patterns. They are made through a wax-resist dyeing
technique called batik. In this technique, a method is used
to “resist” the dye from reaching all the cloth, thereby
creating a pattern. The fabric is characteristically colorful
and primarily associated with Africa because of its triballike
patterns and motifs, and is mostly used to make outfits for
special occasions.
Depending on the processes of manufacturing, the wax
fabric is sorted into categories of quality. A full piece
measures up to 12 yards.
Ankara is quite a versatile fabric, not only used on outfits,
but also as a complimentary in earrings, shoes, bags and
other household items, just to name a few.
Lesso & Kikoy
Lesso is a fabric produced in Kenya and Tanzania. It is made
of pure cotton material decorated with different patterns
and colors, characterized by Swahili sayings or proverbs
strategically positioned at the bottom. It is said that a long
time ago, women in the village wore the lesso to pass a
message without having to utter a word. Traditionally, the
lesso was often worn by women around the waist, as a head
wrap and also as a baby sling. Kikoys on the other hand are
beautiful 100% cotton fabrics, usually 1.5 meters long, with
tassels on the short ends. They are often used as a wrap
for beachwear, or for lounging in at home and are also of
Kenyan origin.
While both fabrics can be used as decorative
pieces, the Lesso can be used to make
fashionable outfits for both men and women
while Kikoys have been used to make creative
accessories such as bags, pillow cases and
seat covers.
7 79 May 2018