West Country Quilt Show
Find us at the show's great new venue
at the University of the West of England
30 Aug - 1 Sep, Bristol
Welcome to the African Fabric Shop
Magie Relph and Bob Irwin
World Textile Day
Free exhibition
Fair trade market
Textile talks
Sat 8 Sep
Mundford, Norfolk
Vintage & Collectable African Textiles
The textile treasures we couldn't resist on our travels
Textiles
From across Africa
Beads
Handmade recycled African beads
Genuine Bolga baskets
Quality baskets - fairly traded
Inspiration
Talks for textile groups
Quilt, bag and jewellery kits
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 seven World Textile Days around the UK.
Featured Items
Our Special Use & Decorative baskets are only woven by the most experienced weaversNEW baskets now on website
While we were away in Newfoundland, Isobel was kept busy posting out heaps of baskets. As soon as we got home, Bob got busy photographing and we've now uploaded plenty of new baskets to tempt you.
You've already seen our popular urn shaped baskets - called Jemima 10 Cows. Now we have a smaller, more affordable version called Baby Jemima.
You'll also know our unique Pakurigo Wave baskets - those are the really wavy, wonky ones. We now have a smaller version called Baby Wave.
Plus, we have a great new array of giant Laundry baskets!
View and buy: Special Use & Decorative baskets
Perle No 8 embroidery threads, hand-dyed by Chameleon Threads in South Africa: Superior quality - extravagantly colourfulOur NEW hand-dyed embroidery threads
We've been looking for threads of this quality and pedigree for a while and we've finally found them!
On our winter trip to Johannesburg we connected with Aldo and his team at Chameleon Threads.
Now you can view and buy Chameleon's wonderful Perle No 8 embroidery threads right here on our website, at the shop and at our various events like Festival of Quilts and World Textile Days around the country.
- Superb quality DMC threads, made in France
- 100% mercerised cotton
- Hand-dyed in small batches by Chameleon Threads in South Africa
- Perfect for any hand-embroidery application
- Excellent value
Per 16 metre skein: £2.40
Mix 'n' Match Discount
Any 11 for the price of 10
View and buy: Chameleon hand-dyed threads
Left: Counters necklace kit. Right: Kofofrom necklace kit.Our jewellery kits: now even easier to make
All of our new jewellery kits - designed exclusively for The Africa Fabric Shop by our own Isobel Holland - are now even easier to make.
- Improved easy-to-follow instructions
- All beads, fabrics and cord included in your kit
- No special tools required
- Just thread, knot and enjoy!
View and buy: Jewellery Kits
Find us in Travel Africa Online Extra, July 2018We're in Travel Africa magazine
Going back a few years, Bob used to write fairly regularly for Travel Africa magazine.
Recently he's reconnected with the publisher Craig Rix and his editorial staff and we're looking forward to working together to bring African fabrics to whole new audience.
Our first story for them is online now in the Travel Africa Extra section of their website.