A new exhibition has launched at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, titled ‘Creative Africa’. From centuries-old sculpture and architecture to contemporary photography and fashion, ‘Creative Africa’ is combining innovation and…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 has been billed as the ‘first major UK exhibition dedicated to contemporary African fashion. Find out more about that in this Empire Textiles blog.
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….
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 the right accessories to wear with your West African fabrics is important and will make you stand out. For some tips, read here!
