The modernisation of the Kaftan!

The kaftan or caftan is a simple garment that has been worn for thousands of years by both men and women. Kaftans can be plain, striped, or decorated - the rustic garment of a peasant, or a magnificent robe fit for a sultan. Kaftans trace their history back to the middle-easten countries. They have been worn for centuries and evolved over time.

 

Long associated with Islamic culture, the kaftan became popular in the West during the late 1960's and 70's when interest in comfortable clothing and ethnic styles made it a popular Bohemian style and an icon of the hippie movement.

 

 

The Western concept of the kaftan has come to describe a garment that is basically a large, rectangular piece of fabric, folded with a neck hole in the center, and stitching up the sides, leaving room for arms. Necklines can be squared, rounded, or V-neck. The V neck variety often features decorated or embroidered edging similar to a dashiki. Kaftans can be button fronted, belted, or drawn at or above the waist with a drawstring.

 

 

 

 

 

Today, the kaftan is back in a big way, popping up at Fashion Weeks and offering men & women comfort, modesty, and glamor.

 

xoxo

 

 

The summer maxi dress - gorgeous african fashion!

Afrokulcha's maxi dress has hit the fashion world by storm. It is chic, it is playful but serious and it is casual & smart at the same time!

 

 

Need I say more??

 

 

xoxo

The beautiful South African sishweshwe fabric!

The formal name for "shweshwe" is ‘Indigo-dyed discharge printed fabric’. Historians claim that indigo cloth arrived in Africa nearly more than 2000 years ago, used as trade goods by the Arabs and Indians. But it really took off in South Africa when German settlers introduced it to the Xhosa people in the mid-1800s.

 

Shweshwe is a stiff cotton fabric that initially came from India and was heavily starched to fight off the damp in the ships’ storage compartments as it crossed the ocean to the Eastern Cape. Xhosa women took a look at these wondrous bolts of cloth, fell in love with the shweshwe fabric and made it their own.

Described as the denim of South Africa, shweshwe, the pure cotton fabric in multiple patterns and colours produced exclusively in the Eastern Cape province, is worn by women in every cranny of the country.

 

 

 

South African jewel is certainly taking over the world!

 

xoxo

 

 
 

The Fabulous West African Gele!

What is a "Gele"? Gele pronounced "gaye lay" is an African head wrap/head-tie that has its roots in the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria, West Africa. This female head wrap, usually worn at occasions such as weddings, is used specifically as an ornamental head covering or fashion accessory.

A "Gele" is a flat piece of fabric. Not just any kind of fabric but typically Aso Oke (Jean-like fabric), Brocade (Starched Cotton fabric), African Print, Paper-like fabric with plain or bold patterns, Damask (heavily patterned Paper-like, Velvet-like fabric), wrapped by hand to form a hat-like looking structure!

 

The fabric can vary in texture and length. To make the "gele"  look great, it needs to have a very strong base.

Africans looking fabulous! Don't you just agree?

 

xoxo