Patterns
Color comes together in exciting and complex ways in patterns! This section explores patterns found within the various countries and cultures on the continent of Africa
Fabric Designs from Across the Continent of Africa
A Closer Look: Resist Dyeing Fabric
Ankara is a replication of the Indonesian batik style of resist dyeing. Batik uses melted wax to mark the design and keep specific areas of the cloth from being dyed.
Early Dutch merchants mechanically rolled designs on to cloth for the Indonesian market; however, the Indonesian customers did not like the cracking that occurred in the designs making them imperfect. Across West Africa in the 1890s, a new market emerged. Several British and Dutch factories began producing ankara for this new customer base. These European producers adapted ankara designs to meet the color and pattern tastes of the West African customers. The crackling and bubbling imperfections of this resist dyeing technique soon became a popular.
Take a look at this video from a German International Broadcasting Company Deutsche Welle. The main question is: is Ankara “African”? What other questions would you ask about this style of fabric and activities in this CSDT?