New and inspiring
Colours pages
Choosing colours
and fabrics
just got easier
African Inspirations
Quilt kits
Bag kits
Jewellery kits
Hand-dyed threads
Collectables and artefacts
African home decor
African fashion
Welcome to The African Fabric Shop
Magie Relph & Bob Irwin
To boldly go where TripAdvisor doesn't
Kuba Cloth from Congo
Handmade from raffia palm
Graphically distinctive
Richly evocative of central Africa
Perfect as a wallhanging
Re-purpose as cushion covers
Use your imagination
African Home Decor
Luscious lampshades
Comfy cushion covers
No waste creations
by Jenny Hall
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
Handmade by the weavers of
the Baba Tree Basket Company
in Bolgatanga, Ghana
Vintage & collectable African textiles
The textile treasures we couldn't resist on our travels
Books
about African textiles
Creating with colour, African-style
We've just launched a whole new section on our website called Colours.
We've brought together fabrics and other items from across our website and across Africa into colour themes. Check out: Sunrise, Rainforest, Savannah, River, Pure Indigo, Sunset and Night.
Choosing colours and fabrics could never be easier.
NEW online: vintage printing blocks
Some - but not all - traditional African wax prints were overprinted by hand using heavy wooden printing blocks.
These rare vintage printing blocks date back to the 1980s and were used up until 2007 in the print works of A Brunnschweiler & Co of Manchester - the last English wax print manufacturer.
- Genuine historic artefacts of Manchester's industrial heritage
- Great as a decorative item on a wall or bookshelf
- Or get creative - can be used for printing too!
Go to: Printing Blocks
Top left: Log cabin curtains © Julie FergusonAfrican fabrics make great curtains
When it comes to interior design and home decor, our ever-creative customers are proving once again the appeal and versatility of African fabrics.
Julie Ferguson started out making a block for the Virtual Log Cabin project and didn't stop until she had a full set of curtains. Well done, Julie!
Jenny Potter used Musa's hand-dyed indigo fabrics for her curtains.
And Susan Stobbs dressed up her window with the Timbuktu design from our Woodin Bogolan range of African furnishing fabrics. Sorry - that design is all gone, but we have plenty of other options in stock.
Video celebrates our handmade African products and makers
Over 35 years Magie and Bob have travelled to 34 of Africa's 54 countries, researching and documenting the processes of dyers, batik artists, stitchers, bead makers and basket weavers.
Not surprisingly, we've amassed thousands of images and more recently video clips. Mostly, they sit there eating up space on Bob's Mac.
Lately - with Jenny working from home (COVID, remember that) - she's been keeping us up there on social media. Her latest creative venture has been making short videos about our products, makers, suppliers and philosphy.
We hope you find them informative and fun. More videos coming soon.
Watch on YouTube: African Fabric Shop Handmade
Wow, this one's irresistible: WKP119 Kudhinda potato print wallhanging, 70 x 100 cmKudhinda potato print wallhangings: just arrived from Zimbabwe
Kudhinda is Shona for 'stamp' or 'print'. Kudhinda 'potato print' wallhangings are designed by Ros Byrne in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Initially Ros's team used real potatoes to delicately stamp the designs by hand, but these days handcut rubber stamps are more efficient.
Their detailed designs reflect the strength, colour and pattern of southern African design. Kudhinda is committed to fair trade principles.
100% cotton canvas, with hanging sleeve.
Sizes vary. Each wallhanging is a unique creation: there is only one.
View and buy: Kudhinda potato print wallhangings
Also available: Kudhinda screenprint fabrics and Kudhinda Zig Zag bag kit