The distinctive fabric known as Kente Cloth is instantly recognised everywhere. Since the 11th century, West Africa has practised strip weaving, the technique used to create Kente Cloth.

Osei Tutu, the King of the Ashanti Kingdom, chose a number of weavers from local towns and villages in 1697 and sent them to the adjoining Ivory Coast to study the intricate technique.

Kente is a pricey and high-value item since it takes a long time to weave by hand. It’s fascinating to observe how rapidly the hands of the weavers—typically men seated inside wooden handlooms—move.

Learning how to manufacture Kente cloth from a seasoned master weaver takes several years for a novice weaver. Until they have been manufacturing Kente for a while, apprentices rarely create their own designs.

It’s challenging to discern exactly how a Kente weaver operates the handloom because of how swiftly their hands and feet move. In addition to having a lot of technical knowledge, it also takes skill and coordination. We provide clear and simple explanations of the fascinating and complex industrial process.