Reveals the complex origins of African wax print textiles and traces the process of printing and dying the fabric, involving wax or indigo, to its West Indian roots. Also explores the differences of mass-produced and artisanally sourced fabrics, tracking where textiles go from the manufacturing centers to markets and cities throughout Africa and the world

All the techniques, step-by-step instructions, and patterns you need to make 25 African wax print garments and accessories. INCLUDES FULL SIZE PATTERNS FOR US DRESS SIZES 4 TO 22 African wax prints are colorful designs created by dyeing cotton fabric using wax-resist techniques, and then overprinting. The result is a fabric that is bright, colorful, and super-easy to use. Adaku Parker has developed 25 step-by-step projects to make a wide range of stylish pieces with this fabric. There are instant wardrobe classics like a shirt dress, A-line skirts, and culottes, as well as wonderful accessories such as tote bags, a zip purse, and a headband. The basic techniques you will need are all explained, so you’ll feel confident with essentials like attaching waistbands, gathering, pleats, making buttonholes, and adding linings. There are projects suitable for all skill levels so all you need is some gorgeous African wax print fabric and a sewing machine, and you’ll be on your way to updating your wardrobe with unique pieces that will help you stand out from the crowd.

Traces a boy's journey across India as he searches for a sacred buffalo bell stolen from his tribe.

Wax Prints of the Sahel features colour photographs that depict original commemorative cotton cloths. Messages written on the cloths serve a griot function that aims to entertain and to educate the reader-viewer. Each cloth illustrates how commemorative wax prints are a means of preserving African cultural history for future generations.

This pictorial survey of African fabric prints includes contemporary bold two- and three-color designs, stripes, grids, and geometrics arranged with a focus on design, color, and pattern. Shown are commercially-made adaptations of traditional African designs in cotton, rayon, wool, synthetics, metallics and surface embellishment. The photographs are lively references and inspiration to artists and designers of fashion and fabrics.

This book is a visual feast, illustrating the richness and diversity of the African textile tradition, and providing designers at all levels with inspiration for their own work. Over 30 textiles from The British Museum's renowned collection are explored in detail: magnificent blue-and-white, indigo-resist-dyed cloths from West Africa; multi-coloured, tie-dyed and woven North African textiles; "mud cloths" from Mali; the unique wrap-striped weaves and ikats from Madagascar; "adinkra" block-print and painted "caligraphy" cloths from Ghana; and the "adire" cloths from Yorubaland