A royal cloth
Originally, the use of kente was reserved for Asante royalty and limited to special social and sacred functions. Even as production has increased and kente has become more accessible to those outside the royal court, it continues to be associated with wealth, high social status, and cultural sophistication. Historians maintain that kente cloth grew out of various weaving traditions that existed in West Africa prior to the formation of the Asante Kingdom. These techniques were appropriated through vast trade networks, as were materials such as French and Italian silk, which became increasingly desired in the 18th century and were combined with cotton and wool to make kente.
Weaving kente
Kente is woven on a horizontal strip loom, which produces a narrow band of cloth about four inches wide. Several of these strips are carefully arranged and hand-sewn together to create a cloth of the desired size. Most kente weavers are men.
Weaving involves the crossing of a row of parallel threads called the warp (threads running vertically) with another row called the weft (threads running horizontally). A horizontal loom, constructed with wood, consists of a set of two, four or six heddles (loops for holding thread), which are used for separating and guiding the warp threads. These are attached to treadles (foot pedals) with pulleys that have spools of thread inserted in them. The pulleys can be used to move the warp threads apart. As the weaver divides the warp threads, he uses a shuttle (a small wooden device carrying a bobbin, or small spool of thread) to insert the weft threads between them. These various parts of the loom, like the motifs in the cloth, all have symbolic significance and are accorded a great deal of respect.
– Â BeverleyÂ
This kente cloth is the real deal! Vibrant colors, great quality. Feels authentic and looks amazing. Definitely recommend for anyone wanting genuine kente.
– Â HelenÂ
Totally agree with Beverley! This kente cloth is legit. The colors are amazing, and the quality is top-notch. It feels so authentic. I’m obsessed!
– Â MaunaÂ
Totally awesome kente cloth! Love the vibrant colors and how authentic it feels. Super high quality, too. So glad I bought this!
– Â CharlesÂ
This kente cloth is seriously awesome! The colors are so bright and vibrant, and it feels super legit. Really great quality, too. Definitely recommend grabbing one.
– Â JoshuaÂ
This kente cloth is the bomb! The colors are crazy vibrant, and it feels so real. Legit quality, you won’t be disappointed. Get one!
– Â JacquesÂ
This kente cloth is seriously fire! The colors pop like crazy, and the quality is top-tier. Feels totally authentic, like the real deal. Absolutely love it!
– Â PeterÂ
This kente cloth is legit awesome! The colors are so vibrant and the quality is amazing. It feels totally authentic, like the real deal. I’m super happy with it!
– Â EdithÂ
This kente cloth is seriously amazing! The colors are ridiculously vibrant and it feels so authentic. Top-notch quality, definitely worth buying!
– Zachary
This kente cloth is absolutely fantastic! The colors are insanely vibrant and the quality is top-notch. It feels totally authentic, just like the real deal from Ghana. Super happy with my purchase!