5 Stunning African Print Fabric Patterns You Need in Your Closet

African Fabrics don’t just create gorgeous outfits or accessories, their threads speak of stories filled with rich cultural heritage, values, and beliefs. 

When you wear an African fabric, you represent a beautiful combination of fashion and culture, bound together with the latest fashion trends, intricate designs, historical events, and traditional symbolism.

So, get ready as today we are going to explore the top five most popular and widely recognized African print fabric patterns that need to be there in your wardrobe.

Top 5 Wardrobe Essential African Print Fabric Patterns

With its roots tracing back to West Africa, Dashiki is one of the widely known African print fabrics that features a loose-fitting, and colorful garment. The word Dashiki is derived from a Yorùbá word, called "dàńṣíkí," which translates to shirt.

With its bold and intricate pattern featuring flowers, lines, and geometric shapes, Dashiki fabric is usually made using bright and vibrant colors. 

These are not just some random colors; instead, they hold a deeper symbolic meaning. For example, where red symbolizes passion, courage, and sacrifice, green symbolizes prosperity and fertility.

Styling Tip: Pair a Dashiki top with jeans or leggings for a casual look. For a formal look, opt for a Dashiki dress or a matching set with pants or a skirt. 

Inspired by the most renowned Indonesian textile wax and dying technique known as Batik, it was the Dutch traders that initially brought Ankara fabric to Africa.

Ankara is one of those popular African print fabrics that can be easily recognized from their vibrant colors and bold patterns that consist of floral designs, geometric shapes, or motifs.

Similar to Dashiki fabric, Ankara fabric is also rich in cultural heritage and symbolizes various beliefs, events, and emotions.

Styling Tip: Ankara is one of the most versatile African fabrics that can be styled into a variety of clothing options such as dresses, skirts, jackets, accessories, and so on.

With its roots tracing back to the country of Ghana and the Ashanti kingdom, Kente is one of the most culturally diverse African print fabrics. 

Initially, it used to be worn by kings, queens, and important figures, on various occasions such as ceremonial events and special occasions.

Kente print fabric features a unique multicolored geometrical pattern and symmetrical design, copied from the original hand-woven kente cloth. Similar to Dashiki, Kente fabric colors also hold symbolism. Such as gold representing wealth, or green representing growth.

Styling Tip: If you are looking for something formal, you can opt for a gown or a tailored suit. You can also pair your outfit with Kente accessories like scarves, jewelry, or bags.

Hailing from Mali, Mudcloth is a traditional Handwoven African cloth that can also be recognized by its other name - Bogolanfini. 

Mudcloth fabric features one of the most distinctive and unique African print fabric patterns as its creation involves a rigorous process of dyeing hand-woven cotton fabric with fermented mud.

It usually consists of a monochromatic pattern that features geometric shapes, symbols, or lines. These symbols are unique in their own way as many times they represent things like historical or mythological elements.

Styling Tip: Mudcloth fabric is highly versatile and can be found not just in clothing options but also in various accessories. To style it, remember to opt for solid colors to match its neutral tone.

Originating from Angola, Samakaka fabric was initially worn as traditional clothing by the largest ethnic group of Angola, Ovimbundu.

Known for its bold and striking geometric patterns, contrasting colors, and rich cultural heritage, Samakaka is one of the well-known African print fabrics.

Similar to Ankara, Samakaka fabric is also considered one of the most visually appealing African print fabric patterns with a strong aesthetic appeal. 

Styling Tip: To style the outfits made from Samakaka, make sure to pair them with minimal accessories and neutral tones to let their vibrant pattern shine through.

Conclusion

African print fabrics are not just about culture and traditions anymore, now they have become an integral part of the mainstream fashion culture. 

Therefore, having these gorgeous African print fabric patterns in your closet is a must.

Our online store, TessWorldDesigns offers a wide range of quality African print fabrics in an affordable price range. So, go ahead and explore our diverse collection and let it inspire your wardrobe choices.

Until next time.