Rahway, NJ — African fabrics are more popular than ever, and the time is right to spotlight some of the continent’s most popular textile arts with a month-long celebration in September! From fashion runways all around the world to exclusive boutiques to discount home décor retailers, the appeal of African culture in cloth continues to grow. And unique forms of creative expression take on even greater meaning when they’re transformed into DIY (do-it-yourself) sewing, quilting, craft, fashion and home decor projects.
African Fabric Month™ is an exciting initiative launched in 2016 by Cultured Expressions, Inc. It promotes the artistic and practical uses of such fabrics as ankara prints, batik, kuba, adinkra, bogolan/mudcloth, korhogo, adire, kente, and more, and serves to honor and promote the cultures that create them. Fabrics like these lend themselves to one-of-a-kind garments, handbags and accessories, quilts and home accents, connecting DIY makers to the creators of the cloths through their culturally relevant colors, patterns and symbols.
“One of my greatest joys is sharing the awe-inspiring textile artistry of Africa as one of its many positive contributions to the world, in contrast to the negative media depictions of the Continent. My passion is creating events and activities that expose people of all backgrounds to the beauty of the fabrics, giving them an opportunity to truly “Feel the Fabric… Embrace the Culture,” and African Fabric Month is just another fun vehicle to reach people,” says author and designer Lisa Shepard Stewart, the owner of Cultured Expressions.
The month-long celebration encourages a variety of suggested activities and projects that are fun, educational, and culturally relevant. Because it’s primarily geared to people who like to sew, quilt and create (the DIY audience), the one-month time frame gives people of all skill levels enough time to engage in the creation of unique projects. Lisa adds, “Everyone is welcome to participate, and to share their own ideas for African Fabric Month with social media posts, including #AfricanFabricMonth.
Interested in joint promotional opportunities (shared social media posts, giveaways, contests, etc)? We're looking to build AFM this year and beyond…Contact Lisa at 866-MUDCLOTH (866-683-2568) or email lisa@CulturedExpressions.com
PRESS CONTACT:
Lisa Shepard Stewart
866-MUDCLOTH (866-683-2568)