How to Make Garments from Guipure Lace
Guipure is a particularly interesting type of lace, as it’s made in such a way that the motifs are stable and therefore can be cut quite easily. Because of this…
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What Are Vlisco Fabrics?
Although Vlisco fabrics were created in 1846, they still have a resounding impact on the fashion, design and art worlds of today, as well as being an essential part of…
How to Fashion Garments from Lace Fabrics
Lace is a popular choice of fabric for a multitude of West African fashions. Whether you choose guipure, Swiss voile, brocade or organza, it’s important to understand there’s an art…
How to Wear Lace
Lace isn’t just for shawls and your grandmother’s curtains! Over the past few years beautiful, colourful laces have exploded on to the catwalk and are now worn by everyone from…
The Timeless Style of the Traditional Dashiki
Anyone who thinks a dashiki is simply a T-shirt couldn’t be more wrong. In fact, it’s much more ornate than an ordinary T-shirt. A traditional, loose-fitting garment, with a V-neckline,…
How Central and West Africa Embraced Wax Prints
Although wax fabric is traditionally used for African fashions, many producers of wax prints are based in Europe. In fact, prior to the 1960s, almost every wax fabric sold across…
Fashion Cities Africa: Celebrating the Diversity of Africa’s Textiles
Fashion Cities Africa has been billed as the ‘first major UK exhibition dedicated to contemporary African fashion. Find out more about that in this Empire Textiles blog.
Stories and Meanings Woven into African Wax Prints
Every picture tells a story, so the saying goes, and this is true for fabric designs, especially those with such a long and colourful history as African wax prints….
The Best Ways to Wear Brocade
Brocade is a group of richly ornate shuttle-woven fabrics, often made in coloured silks and woven with gold and silver threads. The material is often used for evening and formal…
Choosing accessories to wear with your West African fabrics
Choosing the right accessories to wear with your West African fabrics is important and will make you stand out. For some tips, read here!