CONTENT OF SOME AFRICAN PRINTS FABRIC SHOPS

     African prints has brought about unique handcrafted accessories to compliment the personality of each individual; enhancing their personal style colours and the latest trends comes a unique collection of fashion guaranteed to make any outfit stand out. Most people have developed the passion for African Prints.

     African Print accessories reflect a fantastic combination of trend, style and vibrant colour. Some of the accessories are; brooch, bag, bracelets, bangle, hair clips, necklace, earrings, shoes, belt, clutch, etc. African Prints can create stunning crafts, decorations, stunning rugs, table cloths and more. African print has become the trend of the day.

     Most people especially women prefer wearing a dresses accompanied with their bags and shoes because of the fashion trend and it makes them look elegant, unique and more fashionable.

     African Prints clothing is a great way to diversify one’s wardrobe. African Prints have always been a fabric of elegance close to the heart of Africans. Thanks to modern twist and styles, there is wide range of uses from brides and bridesmaid’s dresses, ball gowns, casuals to other formal wears.

     Today, designers are creating new patterns to reflect modern taste, as well as putting a contemporary spin on traditional designs. All 100% cotton, most of these genuine wax, are made in Ghana.

     The sweet thing is that they can now be used to make some other fashion accessories like bungles, shoes and many more.

     In short, it is a tribal and fashion trend now with everybody tuning into it, even celebrities in and outside Africa.

  

SOME AFRICAN PRINT TEXTILE MANUFACTURING COMPANIES IN GHANA

   Some African Print textiles manufacturing companies in Ghana are, Printex, Ghana Textiles Printing Limited (GTP), Akosombo textiles Limited (ATL), Daviva, and Woodin. Others include Tie and Dye and Butik.

 Printex Limited Ghana is a privately owned textile company with over 500 employees in Accra, Ghana. The company was established in 1958 as Millet Textile Corporation (MTC), producing mainly terry towels. . It has been producing textiles for over 50 years now.  

     By 1997, when it assumed its current name, the company had entered into the African Textiles market producing woven or printed cotton or polyester viscose blends. Printex Ventured in Ghana’s African Print market with a trademark Black and white print of intricate designs.

     Today the company produces all colour screen prints and dyed African Print Fabric inspired by a team of textile creatives. Printex African textile ranges include; Seer Sucker, Oheneba, Piesie, Diamond (Plain and Coloured), Gold print, Opanyin, Amaamre, Soso, Egudie, Exotic, Fancy, Osikani, Adinkra, Lace, Ruby, Ntamapa – Royale, Arete, and Xclusive.

Maaso Me she bi is one of Ghana’s most recognised brand tag lines.

     Akosombo Textiles limited (ATL) is a textile manufacturing company in Ghana. Its trade name is AKOTEX.  ATL prints and distributes excellent quality, fashionable but reasonable priced textile fabrics in Ghana, West Africa and beyond for all occasions.

     GTP is a trading name of Tex Styles Ghana Ltd (TSGL) formally known as Ghana Textiles Printing Company Limited (GTP). The company was incorporated in January 1966 as a wax printing business and remains the foremost textile company in Ghana and a leader in the wax prints market.                    

     GTP brand at home in Ghana as well as to other countries such as to other countries such as Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Niger, Angola, USA, and so on. With a high market share of between 35 – 40 in the wax segment, GTP is a very strong brands and has four sub – brands, namely: GTP Nustyle, GTP Adepa, GTP Safoa, and GTP Nsroma with each addressing the peculiar needs of various segments of the textile market.  

     DaViva is a new line of African textiles made in Ghana. It’s the latest in African prints with stylish and trendy designs. DaViva African Prints are especially popular as a fashionable dress making fabric in Ghana and Nigeria.They are particularly suitable for patch work and quilting as well.Some names of DaViva African Print fabric include;Garden Glory,Climbing Vine,Avartar,and Dazzler. DaViva wax prints contain a mixture of unique colours completes of with a textured metallic print. They are of a very high standard and should not be mistaken for inferior imitation quality.

     Woodin has become the official fabric brand for every event. Most people like woodin because of it colours as well as it texture.

HISTORY OF AFRICAN PRINT FABRICS

  Many centuries ago, hair form animals were woven to insulate and protect homes. Hair, along with fibers from various plants and trees, were used to create bedding, blankets, clothing, and wall, window and door hangings. As textiles became more sophisticated, they were also used as currency for trading. Many of the ancient designs and weaving methods are used today and remain an important part of African lifestyles.  

     African print fabrics actually originated in Indonesia and were exported to the Gold Coast and then spread over West Africa into Central Africa. They became extremely popular and over time the Africans customized and personalized their own designs. Today, African wax print fabrics are primarily made in Ghana or Mali, and they have a strong cultural, social and economic importance.

     But the vibrant colors and patterns are everyday fair for many people in West African countries. The trend toward wax prints on the runway has been brewing for several seasons, with designers of all backgrounds using the vibrant prints in their collections. Still, it was the Burberry S/S 2012 collection that gave the trend the office “industry” stamp of approval.

     African print products are prime subjects for companies that peddle “fair trade” wares. The idea is that the people, who make the items, in developing countries, are paid well – rather than exploiting the vast differences in economic power between the producers and consumers of the item.

     African prints were produced across Europe and exported to Africa, with African Customers driving the trade. Since the 1960s factories have been established in Ghana and other African countries from Senegal to the Congo. Today, all of the European factories have closed down, except Vlisco in the Netherlands. The Manchester-based factory ABC (Arthur Brunnschweiler and Company) transferred its UK production recently to a sister company in Ghana. However ABC designers in Manchester continue to create patterns for the African wax print factories and visit local markets to gain inspiration and market feedback. When a design in metallic ink is rolled over the top of a printed or solid color fabric a GOLD PRINT is the result. Sometimes the gold design is tied in with the images or design on the cloth, sometimes not.”

     African wax print fabrics are made by printing the patterns in wax on the cloth and then dyeing the fabric. The fabric, which is 100% cotton, soaks up the dye excluding the portions where the dye was applied. The wax is broken off by machine. Patterns are then printed on the fabric again with other colors. 

     The numbers of times patterns are printed on the fabric again depend on the design. New ideas and more modern techniques of production mean scores of designs are produced every year by makers of these fabrics. Many of the designs found on fabrics depict events, proverbs, persons of importance or local flora and fauna.

     African Prints Fabrics are mostly found in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria. They can also be found in many Central and Eastern African countries.