How to wash African fabrics

I just love your African fabrics, but how do I wash them?'

In general:

·         I recommend washing your fabrics before use.

·         Wash at no hotter than 30° C.

·         Some of these fabrics are dressmaking fabrics and will shrink slightly.

·         If you are going to mix your African fabrics with others, try out some test pieces first to check that they will wash OK when they are pieced together.

All fabrics are 100% cotton unless otherwise stated.

See guidelines for specific fabrics, below.

Magie Relph

A Simple Test

A good way to test any fabric for colourfastness is to dampen a piece of white fabric, lay it on top of the 'suspect' fabric and iron them both until dry. If there is any rogue colour it will bleed out onto the white fabric.

 

Indigo

Indigo dyed fabric often has a lot of excess dye in it. Indigo does not bleed, but it will 'rub-off' onto you and your sewing machine! Therefore, wash before use. Soak for at least 15 mins in cold water. Then wash at 40° C and rinse in cold water. Repeat until the water runs clear.

 

Kola Nut and Indigo

Kola nut is a natural dye. The Indigo will react as above. I've found that a small amount of colour loss occurs in the fabric, especially with the Kola nut (brown). Wash at 30° C.

 

Indigo-dyed Shwe Shwe from Da Gama Textiles

The Indigo will react as above.

Also, when you buy this fabric it’s very stiff. It's just starch and will wash out, leaving a soft fabric. This fabric does shrink slightly.

 

Coral Tree Shwe Shwe from Da Gama Textiles

Wash before using.

Unlike traditional Shwe Shwe, these Coral Tree fabrics are not starched in the factory. However, they will shrink a small amount, so you should wash them before using them.

 

Langa Lapu Sunprints from South Africa

Pru Bolus who designs and dyes these fabrics recommends washing by hand at 30° C. This will help preserve the more delicate lines of the patterns.

 

Mud Cloth (also called Bogolan)

Handspun and woven in Mali, this fabric is dyed with natural dyes that are made from mud and plants. This fabric can be washed in 30° C (cold) water without colour loss. However, as the dyes are natural and may wash out over time, dry cleaning may be preferable.