Ankara (The Fabric)
Ankara also known as “Ankara Print”,
“African Prints”,”African Wax Prints”, “Wax Prints”, “Holland Wax” and
“Dutch Wax” ,is a 100% cotton fabric with vibrant patterns. It is
usually a colorful cloth and is primarily associated with Africa because
of the tribal-like patterns and motifs. The cotton fabric is versatile
and utilized in various industries, such as: Clothing, Accessories,
Footwear, and Furniture.
Ankara is made through an Indonesian
wax-resist dyeing technique called Batik. In this technique, methods are
used to “resist” the dye from reaching the entire cloth, thereby
creating a pattern. Even though Ankara is associated with the African
culture, its origins are not authentically and wholly African. Dutch wax
prints started out as an inexpensive mass-produced imitation of
Indonesian batik fabric. It was originally intended for the Indonesian
market but found a more enthusiastic market in West Africa, where it
became symbols of traditional and high quality fashion. From West
Africa, this unique luxurious fabric spread to other parts of Africa and
all over the world. Ankara has recently gained popularity in the global
fashion scene from the likes of Beyoncé to the Vice President’s wife
Jill Biden wearing it in their outfits.
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