Kente Cloth: An African Tradition

09/09/2018

Contents

 Kente cloth/pattern has been a popular fashion trend lately around the nation. It's bright, beautiful colors and patterns and what they stand for are what make this cloth so authentic.

C-WH368 Kente Jumpsuit #1

Kente cloth originates from the Ashanti people of Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. These pieces of woven cloth were made into clothes for the kings and their nobleman. It was developed in the 17th century and was said to be a sacred cloth worn in times of extreme importance. The Kente jumpsuit shown above is available to order. As years went on different styles and pattern of Kente cloth came about, each color with it's own meaning: Black- maturation, aging, intensified spiritual energy Blue- peacefulness, harmony, good fortune, love Gold- royalty, wealth, spiritual purity Green- vegetation, planting, harvesting, growth, good health Grey- healing and cleansing rituals; associated with ash Maroon- the color of mother earth; associated with healing and protection from evil Pink- associated with the female essence of life; calmness, sweetness, tenderness Red- political and spiritual associations; bloodshed; sacrificial rites and death Silver- serenity, purity, joy; associated with the moon White- purification, sanctification rites, healing Yellow- preciousness, royalty, wealth, fertility (yolk of an egg) [caption C-WH309 Kente Elastic Dashiki #3

C-U920 Kente Dashiki

Over the years, the traditional Kente print has changed as far as patterns, colors and fabric. Below you will see a Kente Mud Print Skirt. This skirt is a mix of traditional Kente and a mud cloth print. C-WH303 Kente/Mud Print Long Skirt