One of the traditional outfits in the sub – Sahara region, other
African countries or the black communities.
It has its origin from Africa; made of different eye catching
colours, different patterns, tribal symbols and designs (Motif)
It all started thousands of years ago by the African, using
roots, herbs, bark of tress, sand, ashes, charcoal, and every natural substance
that has the ability to stain or colour, plant based starch and gums.
Different types of robes made of straw or palm leaves. Ropes
in different sizes, shapes and patterns used for the dyeing contribute to the
beauty of the designs; the process is called ‘Tie and Dye’ where by some parts of cotton materials or any material made with 80% cotton is tied and dyed and some parts are prevented from getting stained by using two or more dye colours.
Objects like stones of different shapes, woods are cut into different shapes and sizes, broken pieces of earthen vessels etc are tied to give the clothes or materials some unique patterns and colours, all these were made manually. Tie and dye fabric is called Kampala or Adire in some parts of Nigeria
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| tie and dye |
As the time progresses due high demand and technology, machines or
machineries were used for textiles giving these patterns and symbols more precision,
the designs were more accentuated making the patterns more detailed and
beautiful.
The real African Ankara has no reverse side (right or wrong side)
One can use any side because the colours are distributed equally just like tie
and dye techniques. Now because different textiles
write some production information beneath which most people assume that the
legible side is the right side; on like batik and other wax that the right/wrong
sides are noticeable, the real Ankara is expensive compare to other wax prints and it does not fade after few washing, while others do.
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| Ankara |
As the demand increased a mass production started from other countries, Vlisco, Batik etc started imitating the motif of the Ankara materials, which are also called Ankara because they have the symbols, patterns and colours, design and are made of cottons. They were welcomed because they were cheaper. These days some exporters have modified the imitation of the Ankara wax print fabric into a no right/wrong side prints for better sales.
Watch how the imitation of Ankara has taken over the market because it is cheap
One of the ancient ways of making tie dye in Nigeria, please if you have a video from another African Country, let me have the link in the comment box. Thanks
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