Welcome to the African Fabric Shop
Magie Relph & Bob Irwin
To boldly go where TripAdvisor doesn't
Textiles and fabrics
from across Africa
African beads
Recycled glass, brass, plastic and paper
Shell, bone, clay and stone
Genuine Bolga baskets
Quality baskets - fairly traded
Vintage & collectable African textiles
The textile treasures we couldn't resist on our travels
Inspiration
Talks to textile groups
Quilt, bag and jewellery kits
Sign up for our e-newsletter
Books
about African textiles
Welcome to the African Fabric Shop
Magie Relph and Bob Irwin travel extensively all over Africa searching out fabulous textiles, beads and baskets.
Every time we unpack our bags, we add new temptations to the website. Enjoy!
We are co-organisers of eight World Textile Days around the UK in 2020.
Featured Items
Dive into our new Art-I-San furnishing fabrics: designed by San Bushmen artists in Namibia, handprinted by Kalk Bay Modern in South AfricaSan Bushmen designs inspire our latest furnishing collection from South Africa
Where ever we venture on our African journeys, we're always searching for something new and exciting.
We're just back from South Africa - where we struck textile gold with a stunning range of furnishing fabrics.
The limited edition Art-I-San fabrics are slightly heavier - ideal for furnishing applications.
Designed by San Bushmen artists in Namibia. Handprinted in South Africa by Kalk Bay Modern. 100% cotton.
Plus: the beauty is not just in the fabrics. The San artists are paid proper royalties for their designs.
We love 'em. We're sure you will too!
View and buy: Art-I-San furnishing fabrics
No Sew Lampshade Workshop
Wednesday 26 February : evening : 7 pm - 8.30 pm
Here's Jenny's take on what makes a great workshop:
- Laid back
- Comfortable
- Friendly
- Helpful
- Enthusiastic
- Inspiring
- Productive
- Affordable
- And not too long!
In her No Sew Lampshade Workshop, you'll use African fabric to turn a mundane lampshade into a work of art.
Fee: £30. Includes all the materials you need to make one lampshade measuring 30 cm diameter x 20 cm high.
Venue: African Fabric Shop
Book now: No Sew Lampshade Workshop
Top: Musa's indigo vat and dyeing with kola nut. Bottom: New indigo and kola nut fabrics now on website.NEW page on website: Hand-dyed Indigos
We're back from The Gambia with a trunk load - literally! - of Musa's wonderful hand-dyed fabrics.
When we unpacked the trunk and saw how many different designs we now have in stock, we decided a bit of re-organising would not go amiss.
NEW page on website: all of Musa's indigo hand-dyed fabrics together
Updated page: all of Musa's kola nut and indigo fabrics, including his latest creations
Enjoy!
What makes World Textile Day GREAT?
Watch the video of World Textile Day Wales in Llanidloes, March 2019. Beware: the cakes are as tempting as the textiles!
Can we bring the shop to you? Magie and Bob at World Textile Day in Frodsham, 2018We'd love to come to your group
Have you noticed we've cut down on the big shows? We've only got Festival of Quilts left. Here's why.
From our World Textile Days, we've discovered something important about running a small scale, fair trade business. We're not just selling fabrics, beads and baskets. We're communicating our experiences and our passion for what we do directly to you.
So instead of big shows, we'd rather bring our mobile shop to you. These types of events are perfect for what we're talking about:
- Guild regional and area days
- Quilt groups
- Embroiderers' Guilds
- Spinners, Weavers and Dyers Guilds
- Textile and costume groups
Invite Magie as a speaker and we'll bring the shop with us!
More info: Talks by Magie Relph