Here's how I started this handmade journey I suddenly seemed to find myself on .................
No kidding, It was REALLY a light-bulb moment!
This is a where my two worlds collide. My love for interiors and the fabulous African Wax Print fabric (also known as ANKARA).
It all started from my crazy love of Ankara. The popular African fabric/ material used originally for clothing for all occasions - be it for everyday, evening, wedding or party wear. It's vibrant, eye-catching, colourful and easily adaptable.
African print fabric is mainly made from 100% cotton fabric although other types of material are used especially cotton-mixes. You can trace the origins of this popular material back to Dutch-Indonesia (and not Africa as most people think). The locals have been applying traditional wax-resist dying methods to produce batik cloths. The outcome of the process are very unique, wonderfully patterned and vibrant fabrics. The Netherlands adapted this technique and modernised it. - hence the term 'Dutch Wax' They started exporting it to Africa (via the Merchant ships). Nowadays a lot of designs result in a clashing mix of exciting colours (And apparently they do work well together)
What makes these African Prints SO unique is the way the patterns & colours run and appear. Never 100% symmetrical but yet very appeasing to the eye.
I can never get enough of Ankara. And literally Ankara fabric has exploded globally. It's everywhere. You even see it on famous fashion runways, famous brands now use it in their products, they are used in fashion and home accessories etc.
So I thought to myself, you know what I can do one better. Being an interior Designer, I didn't want to delve away from interiors, home decor & accessories. I also wanted to make the product myself by hand using Ankara fabric. And then I had a light bulb moment. Pun so intended.
And the rest is history!
It all started from my crazy love of Ankara. The popular African fabric/ material used originally for clothing for all occasions - be it for everyday, evening, wedding or party wear. It's vibrant, eye-catching, colourful and easily adaptable.
African print fabric is mainly made from 100% cotton fabric although other types of material are used especially cotton-mixes. You can trace the origins of this popular material back to Dutch-Indonesia (and not Africa as most people think). The locals have been applying traditional wax-resist dying methods to produce batik cloths. The outcome of the process are very unique, wonderfully patterned and vibrant fabrics. The Netherlands adapted this technique and modernised it. - hence the term 'Dutch Wax' They started exporting it to Africa (via the Merchant ships). Nowadays a lot of designs result in a clashing mix of exciting colours (And apparently they do work well together)
What makes these African Prints SO unique is the way the patterns & colours run and appear. Never 100% symmetrical but yet very appeasing to the eye.
I can never get enough of Ankara. And literally Ankara fabric has exploded globally. It's everywhere. You even see it on famous fashion runways, famous brands now use it in their products, they are used in fashion and home accessories etc.
So I thought to myself, you know what I can do one better. Being an interior Designer, I didn't want to delve away from interiors, home decor & accessories. I also wanted to make the product myself by hand using Ankara fabric. And then I had a light bulb moment. Pun so intended.
And the rest is history!
Below is a snapshot of my online shop which features some colourful Spring inspired products which are also ideal as Mother's Day gifts. where you will find my handmade African print lampshades as well as, cushions, lavender bags/pouches & other home decor items. You can also easily place custom/bespoke orders and send me messages . I do make lampshades in non-African fabric too!
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