You'll find The African Fabric Shop at textile shows and exhibitions around the UK and occasionally in Europe.
Also, along with a group of friends, we organise a series of free events called World Textile Day at various venues around the UK.
And, Magie always brings along a selection of fabrics, beads and baskets when ever she travels to a textile group for a talk.
25 Apr 2024
3 pm
The Nomad's Tent, 21 St Leonards Lane, Edinburgh, EH8 9SH
The People Behind the Cloth
Magie first stepped into an African market 40 years ago. From desert to rainforest, from bustling cities to remote villages, that's a lot of miles.
So, Magie… What keeps you going back to Africa?
'The fabulous fabrics, of course. But it's not just the about the textiles,' she says.
'It's about the people we meet, work with and learn from.'
'It's their knowledge and their stories that we hope to pass on to you - along with their textiles!'
Join Magie for this ‘digital journey’ to West Africa. She'll introduce you to makers, techniques and cloths from Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Ghana and Senegambia. You'll discover how contemporary dyers are building on the past to develop new methods and designs.
£7. Tickets at: https://nomadstent.co.uk/collections/events
25 Apr 2024
4.30 pm
The Nomad's Tent, 21 St Leonard's Lane, Edinburgh, EH8 9SH
Traditions and Innovations
You've probably heard of these traditional African textiles: mud cloth from Mali and Kente from Ghana. You may even know the eponymous Korhogo cloth from Côte d'Ivoire, much admired by Pablo Picasso, no less.
They're all examples of African textile traditions that go back centuries.
So, what's their backstory?
And, how has the world market place of the 21st century driven change and innovation in African textiles?
Join Bob as he examines these cloths, their makers and how they're maintaining traditions while innovating.
£7. Tickets at: https://nomadstent.co.uk/collections/events
25 Apr 2024
6 pm
The Nomad's Tent, 21 St Leonards Lane, Edinburgh, EH8 9SH
Kora music from West Africa
Sample Josh Doughty's incredible kora music on Vimeo: Click to play
Video will open in a new browser window.
When Andrew Haughton at the Nomad's Tent asked us to recommend an African musician to enhance our Under African Skies exhibition, we were stumped.
Then Andrew found Josh Doughty, a Bristol-based master kora player who has studied in Mali with Toumani Diabaté.
We saw Josh play recently in West Yorkshire. His music will transport you instantly to West Africa. Guaranteed.
Don't miss his performance at the Nomad's Tent.
£10. Tickets at: https://nomadstent.co.uk/collections/events
More about Josh Doughty: https://joshdoughty.co.uk/
26 Apr 2024
10 am - 1 pm
The Nomad's Tent, 21 St Leonard's Lane, Edinburgh, EH8 9SH
Hand-stitching workshop with Magie Relph
On her travels, Magie spends a lot of time just waiting: for cars, buses, trains, planes and border officials. To keep busy, she stitches fabric postcards as a reminder of the places she’s been and the people she’s met there. She might even stitch a postcard when she’s not waiting - just for the pleasure.
Join Magie for a hands-on stitching workshop and make your own postcard.
£30. Includes fabrics and a selection of threads for hand-stitching. Please bring your own hand-sewing kit.
Bookings at: https://nomadstent.co.uk/collections/events
Image: While waiting for transport, Magie entertains a local hat maker. Labé, Guinea.
11 May 2024
10 - 4
Frodsham Community Centre, Fluin Lane, Frodsham, WA6 7QN
North of England - Cheshire
FREE ENTRY to our exhibition and sale of fair trade textiles
Frodsham Community Centre is home to an amazing array of textile groups - and one of our favourite World Textile Day venues. Fordsham is very easy to get to from Manchester, Liverpool, the Wirral and even north Wales. We’re always amazed at the turnout and enthusiam. One year we had so many visitors that we had to ask our guest speaker Janice Gunner to repeat her talk in the afternoon!
11 am : main talk : Japanese Country Textiles - Traditions Moving Forward
2 pm : short talk : plus World Textiles Show & Tell
FAIR TRADE MARKET from makers, workshops and villages around the world
Special Guest Exhibitors
Plus: delicious onsite catering and refreshments all day
View and print flyer: World Textiles Spring Events [ PDF format ]
More information: worldtextileday.co.uk
1 Jun 2024
10 - 4
Parish Church of Scotland, 12 Keir St, Bridge of Allan, FK9 4NW
Scotland - Bridge of Allan
FREE ENTRY to our exhibition and sale of fair trade textiles
Bridge of Allan has always been a special World Textile Day for us. It’s a really easy venue to get to from both Edinburgh and Glasgow. But guess what? Those textile-fanatic Scots come from as far away as The Borders, Aberdeen and Inverness. Now that’s dedication!
11 am : main talk : Textile Animal Trappings - Celebration and Endurance
2 pm : short talk : plus World Textiles Show & Tell
FAIR TRADE MARKET from makers, workshops and villages around the world
Plus: delicious onsite catering and refreshments all day
View and print flyer: World Textiles Spring Events [ PDF format ]
More information: worldtextileday.co.uk
Our friend Oklah Tetteh in Koforidua, Ghana makes all of our bottle glass beads from old bottles. Some colours are hard for him to make because the bottles are scarce. These are the really valuable ones:
If you have any, please bring them to us and we'll take them to Ghana. Meda ase - thank you - from Oklah Tetteh.