Welcome to
The African
Fabric Shop
Magie, Bob and Jenny
We boldly go where
TripAdvisor doesn't
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
African Inspirations
Quilt kits
Bag kits
Jewellery kits
Hand-dyed threads
Collectables and artefacts
African home decor
African fashion
Books
about African textiles
Summertime blues? We've got just the curatives
Just uploaded to the website from our recent travels in West Africa:
- Special Collection batiks - perfect for dressmaking
- Vintage & Collectable African textiles - great for decor
- Genuine handpainted Korhogo cloths - hard to find, hard to get
- Vintage Textile Fragments - get creative with Magie's favourite
- Janice Gunner Special Selections - Janice picks 'em, you stitch 'em
There now... don't you feel better already?
Left: Special Collection batik FBN735 by Grace Adover
Right: Special Collection batik FBN738 by Grace Adover
Latest Special Collection batiks : perfect for dressmaking
Sometimes - even for a quilter like Magie - cutting a really special batik into fat quarters is almost sinful.
As a whole piece of 2 to 5 metres, say - these designs and colours take you to another level.
Quite simply, they cry out to be worn.
That's why we set these special fabrics aside for our Special Collection batiks
Check 'em out.
Artist Soro Navaga, Fakaha village near Korhogo. © Robert IrwinKorhogo cloths: hard to find, harder to get
Genuine handpainted Korhogo cloths are getting increasingly difficult to get our hands on.
We haven't been to Korhogo in person for over two years now.
To the big picture of transport and border problems caused by the pandemic, now add the risk of banditry on the routes to northern Côte d'Ivoire. Our contacts say it's just too dangerous these days.
Now the good news... Thanks to our ever-resourceful connection in Accra, we've just received a big bag of marvellous Korhogo cloths. Thanks, Eric!
Various sizes and designs online now: Korhogo cloths from Côte d'Ivoire
- These striking, picturesque Korhogo cloths are ideal as wallhangings.
- If you're a creative stitcher, you can use Korhogo to make your own fashion items, such as jackets, coats, waistcoats, bags, etc.
Read all about Korhogo cloth:
Magie and I arrived in Korhogo on a mission: to find, document and buy the eponymous textile of the region - handpainted Korhogo cloth. We left with bag-loads of cloth and this story. It stars two local artisans and Pablo Picasso.
Read and print the full story... you'll be amazed!
Vintage Fulani blanket
From time to time we get lucky and the Vintage & Collectable African Textiles we have in the shop are extra special.
Genuine Fulani khaasa blankets like this one are getting quite rare and hard to find.
These unique blankets come from the region of the Niger River bend, either in Niger or Mali.
Fulani blankets are handwoven, usually combining a cotton weft with sheep's wool warp. The motifs - which all bear Fulani names and appear Moorish - are arranged into bands across the cloth.
Quite heavy. Great as a bed cover, throw or wallhanging.
Approximate size: 130 x 227 cm / 51 x 89 inches
View and buy: Vintage Fulani blanket