Shweshwe – Green Diamonds

Shweshwe fabrics are traditionally treated with a potato starch in order to protect them from moisture on the sea route. This starch treatment makes the fabrics a bit stiff and firm to the touch. After the first wash, they become pleasantly soft and their colors become more intense. Shweshwe is a unique African cotton fabric with traditional designs. It is the “denim of South Africa” and is part of the country’s cultural identity. The fabrics combine strong colors with fine patterns in a unique way.

Material: medium-weight cotton (100%)
Width: 89-90 cm
Weight: 170 g / m2 (unwashed) / 158 g / m² (after washing)

Shweshwe, these are the enchanting cotton fabrics from South Africa that were used for traditional Sotho (South Africa & Lesotho) clothing, but because of its timeless popularity it is now also referred to as “Denim of South Africa”. It combines strong colors with filigree designs. The Shweshwe fabrics are now exclusively produced by the South African company Da Gama-Textiles in Zwelitsha in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and are produced using the traditional “blue print” copper roll printing process, just like in the past.