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Founders' Collection

Collected over 40 years of African travel

When Magie Relph first set foot in an African market as a cook/campmaster on a trans-Africa overland expedition, she was after onions and tomatoes. That was in 1984.

Pretty soon, though - blown away by her first taste of African wax prints - she added fabric to her shopping list.

Along with her husband Bob Irwin, Magie kept travelling. They've explored 34 of Africa's 54 countries - and counting - researching, documenting and buying textiles.

By the Millenium - with www.africanfabric.co.uk up and running - Magie and Bob were full-time itinerant traders in African fabrics.

Jump cut to 2024. Magie and Bob have finally retired, sort of. In May they passed The African Fabric Shop and website on to Jenny Hall and Wally Bahoum.

So: what is exactly is our Founders’ Collection?

Well, on all those travels, in all those markets, meeting makers and traders from Agadez to Zanzibar, there were a lot of textiles and artefacts that Magie just couldn’t resist.

Here are some them. Browse and enjoy.

Sewing Baoulé cloth: Waraniene, Côte d'Ivoire
Magie Relph and Bob Irwin on the road in Africa, 1984-2024

Turareg Tcherot with Carnelian
image for Turareg Tcherot with Carnelian
£50.00ART141
Fulani Blanket - 3 strips
image for Fulani Blanket - 3 strips
£135.00VCC913
Tanzania Kanga
image for Tanzania Kanga
£20.00VCC909
Flat Weave Kuba Cloth New
image for Flat Weave Kuba Cloth
£35.00WKU903
Kenya Flag Kanga
image for Kenya Flag Kanga
£25.00VCC904
Kuba & Mudcloth Fragments New
image for Kuba & Mudcloth Fragments
£28.00VTF317
Korhogo Cloth - Medium
image for Korhogo Cloth - Medium
£85.00WKH274
Fulani Strip
image for Fulani Strip
£45.00VCC903
Vintage Adinkra Cloth
image for Vintage Adinkra Cloth
£450.00VCC917
Very Long Flat Weave Kuba Cloth
image for Very Long Flat Weave Kuba Cloth
£340.00WKU355
Vintage Textile Fragments New
image for Vintage Textile Fragments
£37.00VTF310
Vintage Adinkra Cloth
image for Vintage Adinkra Cloth
£230.00VCC918
Korhogo Cloth - Small
image for Korhogo Cloth - Small
£50.00WKH280
Vintage Textile Fragments
image for Vintage Textile Fragments
£35.00VTF280
Flat Weave Kuba Cloth
image for Flat Weave Kuba Cloth
£80.00WKU365
Vintage Ewe Kente
image for Vintage Ewe Kente
£190.00VCC252
Vintage Baoulé
image for Vintage Baoulé
£135.00VCC255
Vintage Kente Fragments New
image for Vintage Kente Fragments
£34.00VTF307
Vintage Ashanti Kente
image for Vintage Ashanti Kente
£200.00VCC263
Aso Oke Cloth
image for Aso Oke Cloth
£75.00VCC265
Vintage Ashanti Kente
image for Vintage Ashanti Kente
£180.00VCC228
Vintage Kente Fragments New
image for Vintage Kente Fragments
£33.00VTF305
Vintage Ashanti Kente
image for Vintage Ashanti Kente
£180.00VCC225
Korhogo Cloth - Medium
image for Korhogo Cloth - Medium
£85.00WKH299
Vintage Textile Fragments
image for Vintage Textile Fragments
£34.00VTF281
Korhogo Cloth - Medium
image for Korhogo Cloth - Medium
£85.00WKH295
Flat Weave Kuba Cloth
image for Flat Weave Kuba Cloth
£190.00WKU348
Flat Weave Kuba Cloth
image for Flat Weave Kuba Cloth
£80.00WKU366
Korhogo Cloth - Medium
image for Korhogo Cloth - Medium
£85.00WKH297
Korhogo Cloth - Small
image for Korhogo Cloth - Small
£50.00WKH282
Korhogo Cloth - Small
image for Korhogo Cloth - Small
£50.00WKH283
Korhogo Cloth - Small
image for Korhogo Cloth - Small
£50.00WKH284
Korhogo Cloth - Small
image for Korhogo Cloth - Small
£50.00WKH291
Korhogo Cloth - Large
image for Korhogo Cloth - Large
£165.00WKH294
Vintage Textile Fragments New
image for Vintage Textile Fragments
£34.00VTF302
Vintage Textile Fragments New
image for Vintage Textile Fragments
£33.00VTF306
Vintage Kente Fragments New
image for Vintage Kente Fragments
£34.00VTF314
Vintage Textile Fragment New
image for Vintage Textile Fragment
£20.00VTF316
Kuba Fragments New
image for Kuba Fragments
£30.00VTF318
 
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