Obviously, our website is here mainly as our online shop. But you can also use it as a source of information about African fabrics and textiles, as well as textile art.
Here are some links that we think will be useful to our visitors and customers. Lists are alphabetical within the categories.
Informative website and online shop devoted to the creative work of textile artists, dyers, weavers and embroiderers of West Africa. Operated by Duncan Clarke, who has published several books about African textiles.
Jim and Diane Gaffney have been researching and collecting textiles from across Asia for almost thirty years. Their expertise and fair trade ethos bring a special quality to their shop in Bishops Castle, Shropshire. They are our partners in orgnaising our annual series of World Textile Days in Wales, Scotland and England.
Martin Conlan is a reknowned expert and specialist dealer in the minority tribal textiles of South West China. He is also a partner in World Textile Day.
www.instagram.com/slowloristextiles
Joan and John Fisher are passionate about preserving and supporting the traditional needle-turned appliqué of the Tentmakers of Cairo. Wallhangings, throws and cushion covers.
Handprinted, blue dyed fabrics imported from Hungary by our friend Gilly Thomson. These fabrics are part of the same 'blue dye' tradition as our Shwe fabrics from South Africa.
The Nomads Tent in Edinburgh houses an astounding and ever-changing array of treasures sourced directly from the nomadic and tribal peoples of Iran, Turkey, India and elsewhere in central Asia. Owner Andrew Haughton and founder Rufus Reade are both great sources of information. Rugs, textiles and tribal art.
We're great fans of our local fair trade co-operative shop in Holmfirth, where you'll always find a great range of innovative products, fairly traded. Look out especially for great clothing creations by local designer Sarah Yaccabe made using our African fabrics. Magic!
A collective of over 70 artisans from Timbuktu, Mali: including silversmiths, leather workers and wood carvers. 'Timidwa' means friendship in Tamasheq, the language of the nomadic Tuareg people of the Sahara.
Facebook: Association Timidwa
Agnès Assellin has a totally unique take on African fabrics. Using tiny scraps, she creates beautiful framed pictures of African ladies.
Susan is a talented and established textile artist, quilter, teacher and author based in Wales. Much of her work is inspired by her passion for Japan.
Jane is a wonderful textile artist who specialises in creating indigo Shibori. She offers excellent workshops, as well as a range of indigo and Shibori products on her website.
Janice is an award winning quiltmaker, City and Guilds tutor and author based in London. Her website has excellent images of her work and information about her workshops in the UK and Europe.
Liz can't imagine a life without cloth. She's a great friend and a fantastically innovative textile artist and quilter. She's probably our number one customer for handwoven strip cloth from Weat Africa. Liz exhibits regularly at shows and galleries around the UK.
The UK's national organisation for embroidery.
Kenya's national guild boasts a growing membership of enthusiastic and talented quilters who have exhibited both at home and abroad.
The Guild is a leading organisation devoted to promoting the arts and crafts of patchwork, quilting and appliqué in the UK.
The Textile Society is a unique forum for textile professionals and enthusiasts. The Society promotes the study of textile disciplines and celebrates the history and culture of textiles, both traditional and contemporary. You'll find The African Fabric Shop at their annual Antique Textiles Fair in Manchester, usually in March.
The UK's national organisation for bead collectors, makers, dealers, researchers, and enthusiasts: any one interested in beads and beading.
Our friend Kati Torda is an expert in African beads and a prominent member of the Ghana Bead Society. Her shop in Accra is fantastic!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/suntradebeads