Author: ntombikayise motshoene

What is African fashion?

Clothing worn which has African traditional custom prints on the clothing. Its a representation of different tribes that form part of the nation’s dress code, these are traditional customs that a nation prides themselves with and mostly worn at formal events. African traditional prints reflect individuals’ status and the community in which they belong to.

Where does African fashion come from?

African fashion comes from old traditions and customers from our past generations. Our generational mothers slayed with traditional beads, patterns, and colors that were created by past generations and passed on to future generations.

Popular African cultural customs used today

Zulu attire

Zulu young women wear short skirts made out of grass or beaded cotton strings, This is worn with nothing on top.

As the woman gets older the more she needs to cover. A married Zulu woman wears a knee-length cowhide skirt. Over the skirts, they wear red, white and black beads. Married Zulu women should cover the breast with a beaded bra or a white vest.

Ndebele attire

It’s a traditional custom that is part of Zimbabwe and the SouthAfrican nation. Ndebele culture has a colorful traditional custom. Women wear copper and brass rings called idzille that is worn around the neck, arms and legs. The women also wear isigolwani and neck hoops, which is made of grass. When a woman gives birth to her first child she is to wear an Ijogob which is a five-finger apron.

Yoruba attire

One of the 3 ethnic groups in West Africa. Their traditional attire is mostly worn at weddings and other important events. There’s a special Yoruba cloth called the aso oke. The aso oke is used to create attires for brides, grooms and their family and friends. The bride is supposed to wear special cloth from head to toe. This attire involves a traditional wrapper (the IRO). The wrapper usually covers the bottom part of the women worn with matching a blouse called the Buba, And the matching headpiece.

Asante attire

The traditional attire is worn by the Ewe people. Ota Karban and Kwaku Ameyaw created the kente cloth by observing a spider web weaving it’s web then they learned to weave cloth. The Asante king heard of their discovery and asked them to present it to the king.

The king loved the discovery then made the cloth to be a royal cloth and named it the kente.

The cloth was only to be worn by Royalty. As time went by the kente cloth became available for everyone. The kente cloth has different patterns with a unique name for each pattern. check out this a website for pattern names and their meanings. https://kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane.blogspot.com/2012/12/kente-cloth-ghanas-ashanti-cultural.html?m=1

For more traditional customs click this website.https://www.contemporary-african-art.com/african-clothing.html

African fashion today

Over time these traditions and customs have been replaced with popular dress codes of these days.

Most designers have incorporated traditional patterns and colors into today’s dress codes. This act has allowed Africans to keep themselves in touch with their traditions and customs and still look modern.

What makes African fashion unique

It describes us as individuals and a community as a whole. Distinct’s us from other continents. It brings a sense of belonging. Recognizes the black nation and its beauty and lastly it units us as a nation.

Style_description will love to know about you, tell us which tribe you belong to and how do u incorporate it into your modern lifestyle. Fill it in at the comment section.