About the Shweshwe Fabric

In Africa, most countries have their iconic fabric. Bogolan in Mali, Kenté in Ghana, Samakaka in Angola, Wax in West Africa…and Shweshwe in South Africa. Shweshwe is a beautiful, luminous, and elegant fabric, which combines tradition and modernity.

Shweshwe was born in the Eastern Cape / Xhosa region of South Africa and was originally used for important ceremonies: weddings, royal birthdays. Today, Shweshwe has become more popular and is used for high end clothing and decoration and is a favorite fabric for the new generation of South African designers.

The name Shweshwe (pronounced “choué-choué”) comes from the name of the king of Lesotho, Moshoeshoe I, who, during the 19th century, received indigo fabrics as gifts from French missionaries. He loved these fabrics that eventually were named after him.

Shweshwe is easily recognizable by its geometric patterns printed on brightly colored fabrics. Traditionally, Shweshwe was indigo blue, brown and red. Shweshwe can be recognized for its thickness and rigidity related to the use of starch during its manufacturing process.

Another characteristic of the genuine Shweshwe is the “3 Cats” emblem printed on the back of the fabric. This signature is the symbol of the South African company “Da Gama Textiles”, that is the original and leading manufacturer of Shweshwe. All Kalunza products are made with “3 Cats” Shweshwe fabrics. It is a pledge of the quality of our creations.