Kanga Kikoy Kitenge
African Fabrics Distribution
Everywhere you go in East Africa, you will see kangas. A kanga is a colourful piece of cotton fabric, normally sold as two matching joined pieces. The kanga is more than a piece of clothing; it marks the rhythm of Swahili life. Each kanga is stamped with a saying, a piece of wisdom; some of them serve as blessings for good fortune, friendship; others as a threat for everyone to see. Kangas are passed down in families, from mother to daughter, until they are rags used to clean the house. Kangas are versatile, useful and uniquely African; worn in various ways, they are perfect for a day at the beach or pool, a picnic in the park; besides, they have many uses in the house and the garden at your own choice.
“Enjoy their versatility!”
Kikoy is a piece of woven cotton fabric. It is usually fringed along the edges and has a simple woven design in coloured stripes. The traditional kikoy, originated in the Horn of Africa, is made from two long hand-woven strips of 60 cm cloth, stitched together to form a long, wide piece. Modern kikoys are made of combed and dyed-in-the-cotton yarn, generally using bright colours to form sometimes dual tone pattern. Kikoys are the traditional wraparound worn by men along the East African coast and inland livestock breeders.
Kitenge is an African garment, typical of the Swahili tradition, used in Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, as well as in many other African countries where kitenge is worn. Kitenge is a long rectangular piece of cotton fabric, wax-printed. Compared to kanga, its material is thicker and of different design. Kitenges are commonly used for making skirts, dresses, shirts and fittings fabric.