Shweshwe
Sign in to saveSeshweshwe () (also known as Seshoeshoe) is a printed dyed cotton fabric widely used for traditional Southern African Basotho clothing. Originally dyed indigo, the fabric is manufactured in a variety of colours and printing designs characterised by intricate geometric patterns. Due to its popularity, shweshwe has been described as the denim, or tartan, of South Africa. ==Name== thumb|upright|Xhosa people|Xhosa women in traditional costume wearing [[indigo shweshwe aprons]] thumb|upright|Xhosa people|Xhosa woman wearing a head scarf made from [[indigo seshoeshoe (on the right)]] The local name
Article
8 sectionsContents
- Name
- Uses
- Production
- In popular culture
- See also
- [[doi:10.1093/OED/8432256931|References]]
- Further reading
- External links
Seshweshwe () (also known as Seshoeshoe) is a printed dyed cotton fabric widely used for traditional Southern African Basotho clothing. Originally dyed indigo, the fabric is manufactured in a variety of colours and printing designs characterised by intricate geometric patterns. Due to its popularity, shweshwe has been described as the denim, or tartan, of South Africa. ==Name== thumb|upright|Xhosa people|Xhosa women in traditional costume wearing [[indigo shweshwe aprons]] thumb|upright|Xhosa people|Xhosa woman wearing a head scarf made from [[indigo seshoeshoe (on the right)]] The local name seshoeshoe is derived from the fabric's association with Lesotho's King Moshoeshoe I,. Moshoeshoe I was gifted with the fabric by French missionaries in the 1840s and subsequently popularised it.
It is also known as sejeremane or seshoeshoe in Sotho as well as terantala (derived from Afrikaans tarentaal), and ujamani in Xhosa, after 19th century German and Swiss settlers who imported the blaudruck ("blue print") fabric for their clothing and helped entrench it in South African and Basotho culture.