African Print Fabric Supplier
African wax print fabric (also known as kitenge in East Africa and Ankara in West Africa) is incredibly popular all over the world. Its bright colours and idiosyncratic designs are a great way to make your outfits stand out.
The fabrics were originally introduced by Dutch textile merchants in the 19th century, who imitated Indonesian batik printing techniques. However, they failed to gain a foothold in Indonesia, so the fabrics were shipped out to West Africa instead.
Authenticity
Authenticity is a core part of business – whether you’re a lawyer or a fashion designer, authenticity means that everything you do, say and sell has been tried and tested to be real and reliable. Using this concept in your marketing and communications ensures that you’re communicating effectively with customers as well as boosting brand recognition amongst those you reach.
A key component of this is relational authenticity, which entails the value that one places on allowing others to see the real you. This includes the ability to be honest about your emotions, thoughts, and feelings while ensuring that you don’t reveal confidential information to those who shouldn’t have it.
In African wax print, the pattern is printed onto cotton using a wax-resist method that resembles batik printing. Depending on the fabric design, these intricate patterns can depict things such as animals, culture, sayings, and personalities.
Many of these fabrics are sold as 6 yard bolts with the manufacturer’s labels attached to each piece. This helps you to easily check the label’s origin and verify the authenticity of your fabric.
The price of the fabric is also a great indicator to determine if it’s an authentic African wax print or a fake. Authentic wax prints are usually much more expensive than imitation fabric, which is produced mainly in Asia and is cheaper.
Another indicator of quality is the texture and feel of the fabric. The texture of an authentic African wax print will be softer and more comfortable to wear. On the other hand, an imitation fabric will feel harsh, stiff and hard like paper or even cardboard.
It’s important to be aware of the fact that counterfeit African prints are more common than you may think – this has led to thousands of jobs being lost in Africa. This is why it’s so important to choose a quality, authentic African wax print supplier.
Origins
African print fabric is a popular and versatile fabric that is made from 100% cotton cloth, which can be found in different colors and patterns. This fabric can be purchased in lengths of 12 yards as a “full piece” or 6 yards as a “half piece.”
It is also known as kitenge, Dutch wax or Ankara print and can be printed in any design, pattern, or color you desire. The fabric is a popular choice for clothing, accessories, and home decor.
The fabrics were originally developed in 1846 when a Dutch man named Pieter Fentener Van Vlissingen found a lucrative market for batik-like fabric in Indonesia, where the textiles were a popular choice for fashion and decoration. He later introduced these fabrics to West Africa, where they soon took off.
However, the European-owned Vlisco and other companies that manufacture african print fabric supplier African wax prints have faced a huge challenge from Asian manufacturers who have entered the market in recent years. These Chinese-made African wax fabrics can be ten times cheaper than their European counterparts and have taken the majority of the market.
Moreover, the influx of fake-Vlisco and ABC prints from China has been another major threat to the African wax print industry. These fake fabrics are being sold at incredibly low prices on the Internet, making it difficult for European-owned companies to compete.
It is unclear whether the African wax fabric industry will survive this wave of cheap Chinese-made products. While the African-owned companies will still produce and sell their own products, the popularity of the fabric may eventually diminish. This could mean a loss of jobs and manufacturing facilities in Africa. In addition, it may negatively impact the fabric’s perceived value among African women and consumers.
Meanings
African print fabric is a major component of the clothing industry in Africa and beyond. These fabrics have a wide variety of patterns and colours. The designs are based on motifs and figural compositions. They also represent historical proverbs and traditional African fables.
Many of these prints are given different names based on their story and hidden meanings. One such popular print in Ghana is known as Speed Bird. It is a pattern that consists of multiple birds flying in the same direction. This pattern means that you can be rich today but poor tomorrow as money can fly away easily.
Another print from Ghana is called Nsu Bura which means water well. The tiny dots in the design resemble the ripples that are created when water is fetched from a well.
This design is very popular in Ghana and it is found mainly on dresses, skirts, blouses and shorts among other items. The varying colors and bold print make it versatile and confident.
These fabrics are usually sold in lengths of 12 yards (11 m) or 6 yards (5.5 m). They have a woven texture and are made from high quality cotton. They are often waxed and printed on both sides of the fabric, which gives them a unique look.
These fabrics are important in the fashion world, especially in Ghana where they are worn to celebrate events. They are also used for everyday wear and are an essential part of the fashion industry in many countries in Africa. They are also a source of income for many African women.
Styles
African print fabric supplier offers a variety of high quality fabrics. These include woven mud cloth, wax print, batik, tie dye, and brocade. These fabrics are used to make a wide variety of items such as apparel, accessories, and furniture.
The best part about these fabrics is that they are easy to work with and don’t cost a fortune to manufacture. They also come in a variety of different designs and colours, so you’re sure to find something suitable for your project!
One of the most popular fabrics is kitenge. This is a traditional style of African fabric, which combines a plethora of designs and colours in one piece. Its popularity is a good thing for those wanting to create unique and interesting clothing items.
Another popular style is Dutch wax print, which is a type of printing that utilises melted wax to produce the illustrative print. The process is a bit more complicated than its simpler cousin, but the end result is no less impressive.
Amongst the most impressive is the print’s ability to display different shades of colour on both sides of the fabric. This is achieved by a series of copper rollers that are pushed through the fabric’s surface. The resulting effect is called ‘embodiment’ and is quite the show stopper.
Despite its impressive capabilities, some experts believe that the print may have a short shelf life due to international competition. Its main competitors are the aforementioned Dutch wax prints and batik, both of which have made their presence known in the market. The big question is, will African textiles remain a part of the fashion landscape in the future? The answer is not guaranteed, but it is likely to be an important one.
Production
An African print fabric supplier is a manufacturer or wholesaler of a wide range of printed fabrics, including Ankara, Dutch wax, African Wax Prints and batik. They produce a variety of designs and styles that can be used for clothing, accessories, home decor, interior design, wedding dresses, and much more!
These fabrics have a long history in Africa. They were originally manufactured in the Dutch colonial empire african print fabric supplier during the 19th century. The Dutch outfit company Vlisco was the first to use batik printing techniques on a large scale, making them popular with West Africans and eventually throughout the world.
The pattern of these fabrics has a number of stories behind them which can be related to the wearer’s tribe, marriage or social status. Some examples are the Ghanaian’speed bird’ which depicts multiple birds flying in the same direction, or the Nsu Bura cloth which has tiny dots of water that represent ripples of water when collected from a well.
Those who have lived in African countries for a long time often have a strong understanding of these patterns and their meanings. Using this knowledge, they pass it on to manufacturers in order to create more unique patterns.
As a result, these prints are unique to their origins and have become a symbol of the African continent. They have also been used by artists such as Yinka Shonibare MBE, who has designed Victorian-style dresses and waistcoats with the Vlisco fabrics in his haunting installation Scramble for Africa (2003).
However, these fabrics are now increasingly being produced by Chinese companies and exported to the world market. This has been a source of concern for both African craftspeople and their supporters. It has also led to high prices charged by foreign companies, which may be damaging to the local fabric market in Africa.
