Tissue (kente)

Vervaardiging: Vlisco Helmond B.V.

The colourful cotton fabrics of the Asante in Ghana are called 'kente'. The word kente is probably derived from the Phanti word 'kenten', which means basket. Textiles were carried to market in baskets. Kente textiles were mainly worn by the aristocracy in the 19th century, before they also became popular with the middle classes in Ghana. Many Ghanaians, including non-Asante, see these rugs as national dress. Currently, kente is mainly worn on Sundays and holidays. The kente rugs are exported in large quantities, including to the United States. There the descendants of slaves from Africa consider them as a symbol of their 'fatherland'. Nowadays kente motifs are depicted on all kinds of objects. On this cotton fabric a print has been applied that refers to the motifs that can be found on Kente cloths.