What is African Wax Prints?

African wax prints are colorful cotton fabrics manufactured to Correlate the African culture, history and artistic works performed by their ancestors as honor of remembrance.

These fabrics come in different colors, material quality as well as patterns . Similar fabric materials used in Nigeria and other West African nations include Dutch wax, Veritable Dutch Hollandais, etc, that we’ll talk about later in this article.

Most African based fashion designers use this quality printed material to sew designs such as Ankara style, Buba, Iro and Ado Ebi. Keep reading as we go deep on explaining everything you need  to know about African wax prints.

History of African Wax Prints

In the 19th century West Africa countries like Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal welcomed Dutch merchants to import their manufactured African wax prints into West Africa.

The name “wax,” which means “wax” in English, refers to a wax-based printing method influenced by Indonesian Java batik.

The Dutch empire capitalized on this approach to dominate the Indonesian market for Java batik by manufacturing it quickly and cheaply in Europe as a result of textile industrialization.

However, when sold to Indonesia, Dutch batiks were criticized for being of poor quality due to numerous defects. Their invasion of Indonesia failed, so they headed to Africa to promote their products.

To break into this new market, the Dutch planned to pitch wax to Ghanaian and Nigerian soldiers as a unique product with flawless faults due to printing procedure errors.

This fabric, which is generally accepted by the West African countries is a sign that the material suit into the African traditon.

With the fabric gaining popularity in West Africa, the Dutch empires decided to manufacture in large quantities and sell the textiles to other nearby countries like Togo, Niger, Congo, and Cameroon.

Production Process of African Wax Prints

African wax prints use natural dyes to color cotton textiles, making them both eco-friendly and safe to wear. All cotton products are safe and comfortable for people.

Fabric printing with wax is a sort of resistant dyeing or printing that can create spectacular pattern effects that resemble natural beauty.

African wax print fabric offers all the advantages of cotton, including alkali resistance, heat and cold resistance, as well as heat retention.

Identifying of African wax printing.

Waxed African fabrics are meant to offer three various hand feels: waxed, hard, and soft, similar to other regular fabrics.

• Waxy handfeel: smooth and shiny, with the silky touch like a candle. Waxed African fabrics are suitable for both informal and formal Ankara designs.
• Soft hand feel: It feels very soft, akin to cotton (a typical hand is almost stiffer than soft), which is suitable for next-to-skin clothing.
• Hard hand feeling, particularly hard, such as cardboard that has been machine pressed to make it shine. It is generated through calendering and provides a waterproofing effect. It is more suited for banners and rigid bandages.

How can African waxes be distinguished?

1. The combustion system takes place when a small piece of fabric is lighted with matches. Another method of trying this combustion system is by exposing the material to fire, the cotton material burns fast, emitting a yellow flame.

This smells most of the time like burnt paper until it eventually turns into an off-white powder.

2. Hand feel: Cotton fabric is easily wrinkled by hand, the creases are visible, and it is slow to restore flatness.

3. Hand feeling: Cotton fabric appears softer.

Off-shoulder African print dresses

Off-the-shoulder African print dresses are both visually appealing and enjoyable to wear. They are made of bright, energetic fabrics and often have distinctive designs that set them apart.
Wearing this attire makes you feel smart while also connecting with African culture.

These gowns highlight your shoulders, making you appear happy and unique. They are perfect for parties or special occasions, and they serve as a continual reminder of Africa’s beauty.

African print maxi dresses

African print maxi dresses are beautiful and well-styled. They’re created of fabrics with distinctive designs, including flowers or geometric shapes. Wearing a long dress like this makes you feel elegant and lovely.

These gowns are great for important events like parties and weddings. They highlight the diversity of African culture and make you feel special. Showcasing in your printed dress helps you promote your country’s traditions to the world.

Julius Holland Wax Prints

This particular wax print feels natural on your skin when worn and the originality in it is what makes it appear as a super ordinary  African attire.

The fabric can be worn on religious occasions. Whenever someone wears a Julius Holland wax print it is as exact as wearing an artwork on your body. This Wax gives you a feeling of being a leader with its stylish and unique nature.

Hi-Target African Prints

These printed fabrics, which have unusual patterns, are extremely popular in West Africa. They are tightly woven and resilient, so they will look excellent even after several washes.

People use Hi-Target African Prints to create fashionable design outfits for important occasions such as birthday parties. Wearing these textiles gives you a celebratory sense.

Angelina (Ya Mado)

This renowned textile in Africa is known for its exquisite patterns and designs. The fabric became quite popular due to a song named “Angelina” by The Sweet Talks, which made the design even more popular.

Conclusion

Ankara is one of the most common styles made from  African wax prints that are exceptionally designed to tell stories of African blend with fashion.

African wax prints are also used to design ordinary clothes such as long dresses, shirts, and skirts.

Hence, these wax prints are a unique way of promoting African culture.  I advise you to try them out for yourself and feel the true richness of African culture on your skin.