What is African wax print fabric?
'African wax print fabric is a defining methaphor of African design, fashion and expression; an immediately recognisable icon throughout the world'. Quite simply, it just says, 'Africa.'
What are African fabrics?
When most people think of African fabrics, the first thing that comes to mind is African wax print. Traditional - because they've been sold in African markets since the industrial revolution and many of the original designs are still popular today.
What is a women’s wax print?
Wax prints are a type of nonverbal communication among African women, and thereby carry their messages out into the world. Some wax prints are named after personalities, cities, buildings, sayings, or occasions.
What is Dutch wax print?
The Indonesian market didn’t respond to the brighter, graphic designs of wax print, but it found a delighted reception in Africa. Therefore, you might hear it called Dutch Wax Print, or Ankara Print. Wax print is 48” wide, but, you get a whopping six yards in every cut. SIX. YARDS.
Is African wax cotton stretchy?
As a Nigerian, I grew up with Ankara which is also known as wax cotton fabric. It's the fabric used in most West African traditional clothing and in most D'IYANU garments. As most of us familiar with Ankara know, this material is made with 100% cotton and has little to no stretch.
What is African wax fabric called?
Ankara fabricThe textile used to make African prints is called Ankara fabric that is also referred as African wax prints fabric, Holland wax, or Dutch wax. The Ankara fabric is known for its colorful African prints, and is deeply associated with African clothing.
Should I wash African wax fabric before sewing?
Taking care of your Ankara piece starts with pre-washing the fabric, because of the wax finish. Pre-washing will make sewing more manageable, and I would recommend pre-washing in cold water.
What is wax fabric used for?
Uses for Waxed Canvas Bags: Messenger bags, backpacks, handbags – they all benefit from being made from waxed fabrics, plus it protects your belongings. It's a perfect material for commuters and bike riders. Tents: Tents made from the canvas are hyper-durable.
Where is African wax made?
WHAT IS AFRICAN PRINT FABRIC CALLED? African wax print fabric is know as ankara; 100% cloth cotton that's used to make clothing, accessories and other products. It was originally produced in Holland, but now produced in Africa.
Why is African fabric wax?
The wax prints, although called African, have a long and engaging history. They were first produced in the 1800s by the Dutch as an attempt to copy and mass-produce hand-drawn wax resist Indonesian batiks. These didn't take off in the Indonesian market but found a receptive audience in West Africa.
Can you iron African wax fabric?
Dry and iron African print fabrics on a low heat temperature Otherwise, just toss them in the dryer and place the temperature on the lowest heat setting. Some dryers have a “no heat” setting which works perfect!
Can you use African wax fabric for upholstery?
African wax print fabric can be used in clothes making but are also suitable for quilting, bag making and upholstery.
How do you soften waxed cotton?
Soak the Fabric in Soap and Hot Water Soap helps soften the fabric, and it also helps clean and brighten the fabric. – Fill a sink with lukewarm water. Add a squirt of mild and gentle liquid detergent and a few drops of liquid fabric softener. – Submerge the fabric in the water and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Does wax cotton shrink?
Once you get them good and wet from sweat, they will shrink at least one size, and sometimes two.
Is waxed cotton breathable?
Not only are they breathable and waterproof, a classic wax cotton jacket also moulds to you over time. Like leather (or wine), waxed cotton improves with age.
Can you wash waxed cotton?
Cleaning and Care Instructions Waxed cotton should not be machine washed or dry cleaned and should be kept away from hot water and harsh detergents that will remove the wax coating. When spots occur, use a damp rag or soft bristle brush to gently buff out the stained area.
What is waxed fabric called?
Batik Waxed Fabric Batik is a wax-resist dyeing technique, done by hand, which is perhaps most famous in Indonesia. It has been disputed where Batik fabric originates, as Batik fabric has been manufactured in Egypt, Syria, Nigeria, and Senegal. However, the technique always remains similar.
What is African batik?
Batik is a well-respected, ancient art form and craft. It is a similar process used to make African print fabric but instead of using industrial printing machinery it is all done by hand! The fabrics are used to make traditional African clothing as well as modern Afrocentric clothing, accessories and homeware.
What material is African print?
cotton fabricsAfrican print is a general term that typically identifies a category of 100% cotton fabrics with vibrant colors. Typically, the patterns are printed on by a machine using wax resins and dyes, creating a batik-like effect on both sides of the fabric.
What is Kitenge fabric?
Kitenge or chitenge (pl. vitenge) is an East African, West African and Central African fabric similar to sarong, often worn by women and wrapped around the chest or waist, over the head as a headscarf, or as a baby sling. Kitenges are colorful pieces of fabric that contain a variety of patterns and designs.
What is wax print fabric?
All over - but especially West and Central Africa - wax print fabric is worn by women, men and children of every social standing, from humble farmers to elite politicians. It is tailored into elaborate dresses and suits and also worn as a simple wrapper or pagne.
What is wax used for?
In the early days, wax was used to create a resist before dyeing the fabrics in industrial quantities. Today, a resin has replaced the wax. Some designs also require overprinting, originally by hand using wooden printing blocks.
What is wax print?
Wax print is printed on both sides of the fabric, not one side like a screenprint. Wax print has two distinct irregularities: a slight misalignment of colour and design, plus a distinctive crackle effect caused by tiny cracks in the resin resist.
Where did wax print originate?
Wax print dates from the industrial revolution, when English and Dutch textile barons developed a way to mechanise batik production. The fabric found a market in West Africa and by the 1960s Europe was exporting millions of yards of fabric per year.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of African fabrics?
When most people think of African fabrics, the first thing that comes to mind is these traditional African wax prints. Traditional - because they've been sold in African markets since the industrial revolution and many of the original designs are still popular today.
What is counterfeit fabric?
The counterfeit fabrics usually copy the African and European textile mills’ trademarks and logos on the stickers and falsely claim they are made in an African or European country on the selvedge! However, the quality and colourfastness of the counterfeit fabrics are inferior to the European and West African produced fabrics.
How long does it take for Chinese to copy a design?
It takes the Chinese 1 to 3 months to copy a new design so speed to market is key for the African and European textile mills to differentiate themselves and compete. African Governments should do more to stop the importation of counterfeit wax print fabrics from Asia before it is too late. Otherwise, the designs of African textile mills will ...
Why are locals buying fake fabrics?
Locals are purchasing ‘fake’ counterfeit fabrics over ‘original’ African (or European) produced fabrics because of the price difference, which is understandable due to the current economic climate. The original fabrics are usually sought after for special occasions. The counterfeit fabrics usually copy the African and European textile mills’ ...
Why are African textile mills closing?
The main reason being that they simply cannot compete with the cheap Asian imports from countries including China and India sold at nearly half the price!
Where was African Wax made?
Did you know that African print fabric (commonly known as ‘Ankara’ in West Africa and ‘Kitenge’ in East Africa) were first produced in Indonesia? West African soldiers, who were serving in Indonesia in the 1800’s, started to import the fabrics into Africa.
Who imported fabrics from Africa?
West African soldiers, who were serving in Indonesia in the 1800’s, started to import the fabrics into Africa. Later, European traders replicated the fabrics using modern machinery, particularly the Dutch who are one of the main producers of the fabrics today.
How many yards of kitenge fabric is a single piece?
A whole ‘double’ piece of kitenge fabric is 12 yards in length but you may also be able to purchase half ‘single’ pieces, which are 6 yards in length. The width of the fabric varies between different manufacturers; it is usually 46 to 48 inches.
What is wax print fabric?
African wax print fabric, also know as kitenge and ankara fabric, is mass produced, colourful, 100% cotton cloth commonly worn and used to make clothing, accessories and other products in Africa. The method of producing the fabric is called batik, a wax resist dyeing technique and ancient art form that originates from Indonesia.
What is the history of Ankara?
The History of Ankara/Kitenge Fabric. When the Dutch colonised Indonesia, their merchants discovered batik fabrics and brought samples back to The Netherlands. Dutch textile manufacturers developed ways to print the fabric in bulk by machine and started to produce cheaper batik inspired imitation fabrics. These new fabrics were not popular in ...
How to make African wax?
The basic steps of African wax print fabric production include: 1) Melted, molten wax is printed by machine onto both sides of the cloth. 2) The cloth is put into an indigo dye bath (the dye repels the wax covered areas of the fabric) 3) A machine cracks the wax to create a marbling and bubbles effect. 4) Printing machines add two ...
What is Kitenge's fabric?
Kitenge founder, Sian, wearing an African print shirt and fabric wrapped around her waist when cooking Christmas dinner in Tanzania. The fabric can also be used to make cushions, curtains, bed sheets, napkins, quilts, lampshades, bunting for the home as well as accessories such as bags, shoes and jewellery. Pretty much anything you can think of can ...
What does the color of a print represent?
The colours and symbols used in each print design can symbolise a tribe, marriage and social status of the wearer. After the fabrics are designed, printed and distributed to markets, particularly in West Africa, the women who wear them create the stories and hidden meanings behind them.
What is the Ghanaian print called?
For example, there is a popular Ghanaian print known as ‘speed bird’ . It has multiple birds flying in the same direction meaning you can be ‘rich today, poor tomorrow’ as money can easily fly away. Another popular print in Ghana is called ‘Nsu Bura’, which is an Akan word for ‘water well’.
What is the African wax print?
It's impossible to talk about African wax print without mentioning its predecessor, batik. During the colonization of Indonesia in the early 1800s, the Dutch were introduced to the handmade batik textiles. Javanese locals use the wax-resist dyeing technique of drawing with wax on cotton before dyeing it to produce various colors and designs. The incredible tradition of batik and its global influence has prompted UNESCO to list it as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Why is African mud called African mud cloth?
This amazing technique causes a chemical reaction when laid out to dry in the sun. When the mud is finally washed away, only the vibrant hues remain.
How to soften fabric with white vinegar?
Simply add 8tbsp (120ml) to a load of laundry before the final rinse cycle or put it in the fabric softener dispenser at the beginning of the wash.
Why is African print fabric stiff?
As with all garments, your African print fabric or garment will soften over time with washing.
Can you add fabric softener to a washing machine?
You can also add liquid fabric softener to your washing machine (making sure it’s a cold or lukewarm cycle). When the washer has filled with water for the rinse cycle, pause the machine and let the garment sit for a couple of hours, before allowing the cycle to finish.
Can you steam African print?
However, for the majority of African print fabrics, this is not advised . It’s vital that you read the care label on a garment (or check out the manufacturer’s care instructions) to check what is recommended. Steaming can also help to soften the fabric but if you decide to employ the iron, again make sure you are following care instructions to ...
Can you put African print in the dryer?
When looking for advice on softening fabrics, more often than not you will be told to ‘put the item in the tumble dryer.’. However, for the majority of African print fabrics, this is not advised.
