Tuesday 13 June 2017

How are patterns designed on an African fabric?

Africa has a rich history in fabric production. Different types of textiles are produced by diverse tribes of numerous cultures flourishing in the continent. The variety of clothes is fascinating and endless there. These traditional clothes are making their way in the fashion industry. Many celebrities are already flaunting these types of clothes. These clothes are best for warm climates and the design and patterns give a better and different look than your normal attire. Many women buy African fabric dresses due to their vivid colours and beautiful designs.

Making of the fabric

The African people make fibres using substances like cotton, wool, linen, raffia, bast, and tree bark. These fibres are then either woven with coloured threads or dyed after weaving to make fabrics. To make designs on African fabrics people use three types of methods.

Dye Method

African people dye their clothes to create patterns. They sometimes use resist method in which a substance or paste is applied on the cloth which resists the dye on some part and gives beautiful designs and patterns at those parts. There are numerous types of dying process and the most famous which is in use from a long time is batik method. Batik method was originally found in Indonesia and the dyeing technology was brought by the Dutch to Africa. Many African fabrics store sell dyed clothes made from different techniques.

Embroidery and applique

The colourful fibres which are made from different sources can be embroidered on the surface of the cloth. The embroidery gives numerous beautiful geometrical patterns made by these bright fibres. In applique method, the patterns are sewn straight onto the background.

Most of the African fabrics are printed nowadays but the tradition of hand-made fabrics is still alive in Africa. If you are looking for genuine Africa fabrics for sale online then contact us.

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