Category: Africa

adinkra

17th century, 18th century, 19th century, 20th century, A, Africa, BIPOC, term definition

Produced by the Asante peoples in Ghana, adinkra is a flat, cotton textile that is stamped with symbols which create the meaning of the garment.

dashiki

19th century, 20th century, Africa, Americas, BIPOC, D, term definition

A loose-fitting pullover tunic traditionally worn in West African cultures that was adopted by African diasporic communities as a symbol of African heritage in the 1960s and then more widely worn as a popular item of “ethnic” fashion.

bogolanfini

20th century, Africa, B, term definition

Bogolanfini (bogolan- meaning cloth; fini- meaning mud) is a cotton cloth made from strips of woven fabric, which are decorated with symbolic patterns using the mud-resist technique, sewn together at the selvage to create a fabric that is utilized during the main four stages of a West African Bamana woman’s life: puberty, marriage, motherhood, and death.

backstrap loom

Africa, Americas, B, L, term definition

The backstrap loom is a lightweight, mobile loom made of wood and a strap that is wrapped around the back. It only needed to be attached to a tree or a post for stability and to provide tension.

eye of Horus

Africa, ancient, E, H, term definition

The eye of Horus, or Wedjat eye, is an ancient Egyptian symbol that represents the eye of the falcon-headed god Horus and symbolizes healing and regeneration and was often worn for protection.

faience

Africa, ancient, F, term definition

Faience is a man-made ceramic material that was often used in ancient Egypt to make jewelry and devotional objects. It is usually a blue color.

raffia cloth

17th century, 18th century, 19th century, 20th century, Africa, R, term definition

Raffia cloth is a type of textile woven from palm leaves and used for garments, bags and mats.

The Authentication of Chinese Culture in African Fashion

2000-2009, 2010-2019, 21st century, Africa, Asia, thematic essays

Since the mid-20th century, relations between Africa and China have grown stronger leading to a significant change in the mutual adaptation of fashion between both nations. A 21st century, Sino-African style has been formed by the intercultural meshing of traditional garments, textiles, and motifs.

Recent Essays

1869 – Red Silk Dress
In 1860-1869, 19th century, garment analysis
katazome (stencil printing)
In 18th century, 19th century, ancient, Asia, K, P, S, term definition
1905 – André Derain, Lucien Gilbert
In 1900-1909, 20th century, artwork analysis
Inès Gâches-Sarraute and the Straight-Front Corset
In 1890-1899, 1900-1909, 1910-1919, 19th century, 20th century, thematic essays
1906 – John White Alexander, Study in Black and Green
In 1900-1909, 20th century, artwork analysis