What are African textiles made from?
A. African textile arts employ a broad range of locally-available and imported natural and synthetic materials. Natural materials include raffia and pineapple fiber, banana leaves, cotton, silk, wool and animal skin that is often tanned to leather. There are many synthetic fibers in use, including the shiny fiber known by its brand name Lurex. Colors are added using natural dyes, such as indigo, and synthetic dyes, which have long been available in Africa. African textiles and articles of clothing are decorated with a wide variety of materials including cowrie shells, animal teeth and fur, attachments of brass, iron and copper, glass and plastic beads, sequins, feathers, animal fat and oil, colored ochre and camwood powder.
