Cart
0
0.00 Kč
What Is Wax Print (Ankara)? An Introduction to Africa's Most Famous Fabric
Where Ankara Really Comes From
The story of these fabrics didn't begin in Africa, and yet Africa transformed them so deeply, that without them the continent would look entirely different today.
In the 19th century, Dutch traders brought a printing technique inspired by Indonesian batik to the countries along the Gulf of Guinea. And there, something very African happened - people took something foreign and reshaped it into something profoundly their own.
Patterns began to tell stories.
Colours gained meaning.
And an ordinary fabric became part of identity.
These fabrics are still produced in the Netherlands today - not all of them, but a significant part. Later, Asia began producing cheaper versions thanks to the growing demand, but always primarily for the African market.
Why "Ankara"?
In Nigeria, Ghana, and other West African countries, the name Ankara has been used for generations.
It's a word you hear at markets, in tailor shops, in families - everywhere life is happening.
It's not just a label for a material. It's the name of a whole world connected to it.
Every pattern has its own meaning. Some remind people of family, others of faith, strength, or cleverness. When you stand in front of a stall, you don't feel like you're shopping. You feel like you're in a gallery, where every piece exists because someone cared about what it expresses.
How Ankara Is Sold in Africa
In West Africa, you don't buy one or two metres like we do here. Ankara comes in bundles:
-
6 yards - enough for a beautiful dress or a men's outfit
-
12 yards - chosen by families, couples, and for celebrations
Each bundle has its own label, hologram, and manufacturer's logo. And you can recognise an original right away: it's firm, equally vibrant on both sides, and made from 100% cotton. Lower-quality versions feel thin, shiny, and almost paper-like. In Africa they simply say "original or fake." Even original fabrics evolve with trends - usually in weight or printing style - but the essence remains.
When Fabric Becomes More Than Fabric
Maybe that's why Ankara captivated me so deeply. It's not just sewing material. It's a way people speak without words.
On markets in Lagos and Awka town, I heard women choosing not by colour, but by meaning:
"This one is good for celebrations - it speaks of happiness."
"This one is for strong women."
"I'll wear this to a wedding - it symbolises family unity."
Some Ankara prints even carry political messages. You may see people wearing fabrics with the face of a politician they support, or with the image of a local king. And that's when I realised I was holding something that tells stories even when it's silent.
Why Ankara Became Part of My Heart
When I started traveling to Nigeria, I began to look at Ankara differently. I saw women choosing colours for a celebration.
I saw men and women laughing at sewing machines - in Nigeria, many tailors are men, and it's common to meet one carrying a sewing machine on his shoulder on the way to a customer. I saw how a simple piece of fabric can become a small joy in an ordinary day.
And that's when I knew I wanted to bring some of this world closer to people here.
Not only as a product, but as a story.
That's how my project Ada nne was born - a small window into two cultures that don't compete, but enrich each other.
And when I watch colourful rolls of Ankara fluttering gently in the Nigerian wind like little flags, one thought always comes to my mind: "Life here is anything but black and white."