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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

Fulani Blanket - 3 strips New
image for Fulani Blanket - 3 strips
£135.00VCC913
Tanzania Kanga New
image for Tanzania Kanga
£20.00VCC909
Tanzania Kanga New
image for Tanzania Kanga
£20.00VCC910
Tanzania Kanga New
image for Tanzania Kanga
£20.00VCC911
Kenya Flag Kanga New
image for Kenya Flag Kanga
£25.00VCC904
Kenya Kanga New
image for Kenya Kanga
£25.00VCC906
Kenya Kitenge New
image for Kenya Kitenge
£20.00VCC912
Ethiopian Netela - black trim New
image for Ethiopian Netela - black trim
£30.00VCC915
Ethiopian Gabi - gold trim New
image for Ethiopian Gabi - gold trim
£35.00VCC916
Raffia Skirt New
image for Raffia Skirt
£75.00VCC901
Fulani Strip New
image for Fulani Strip
£45.00VCC903
Contemporary Ashanti Kente New
image for Contemporary Ashanti Kente
£125.00VCC919
Vintage Adinkra Cloth New
image for Vintage Adinkra Cloth
£450.00VCC917
Vintage Adinkra Cloth New
image for Vintage Adinkra Cloth
£230.00VCC918
Vintage Ashanti Kente New
image for Vintage Ashanti Kente
£210.00VCC920
Vintage Ewe Kente
image for Vintage Ewe Kente
£190.00VCC252
Vintage Baoulé
image for Vintage Baoulé
£135.00VCC255
Vintage Ashanti Kente
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£200.00VCC263
Aso Oke Cloth
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£75.00VCC265
Aso Oke Cloth
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£60.00VCC266
Vintage Bondoukou
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£125.00VCC244
Vintage Ashanti Kente
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£180.00VCC228
Vintage Ashanti Kente
image for Vintage Ashanti Kente
£180.00VCC225
Korhogo Cloth - Medium
image for Korhogo Cloth - Medium
£85.00WKH273
Korhogo Cloth - Medium
image for Korhogo Cloth - Medium
£85.00WKH274
Korhogo Cloth - Medium
image for Korhogo Cloth - Medium
£85.00WKH299
Korhogo Cloth - Medium
image for Korhogo Cloth - Medium
£85.00WKH298
Turareg Tcherot with Carnelian
image for Turareg Tcherot with Carnelian
£50.00ART141
Tuareg Tcherot Necklace
image for Tuareg Tcherot Necklace
£50.00ART142
Balafon Player
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£40.00BBR769
Bao Players
image for Bao Players
£40.00BBR770
Manilla Bracelet
image for Manilla Bracelet
£28.00ART152
Berber Pendant Necklace
image for Berber Pendant Necklace
£50.00ART147
 
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