Kuba Cloth --Elegant and Timeless Textile

Many of our handbags feature Kuba cloth; a raffia fabric made by the Kuba people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire), in Central Africa.  Like me, many of you are captivated by the amazing beauty of this fabric.   I must confess, I lovveee Kuba cloth. I think it is one of the most beautiful and elegant exotic textile I have encountered.   I am not the only one fascinated by this amazing textile.  Renowned artists Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Paul Klee were also captivated by Kuba cloth's beauty! Matisse was so fascinated by the fabric that he kept a large collection in his studio and displayed on the walls.   Look for the influence of Kuba cloth and African art next time you view these artists'' work.

Kuba Cloth Has Great Cross-Over Appeal

Kuba cloth continues to have strong cross-over appeal.  Chic and beautiful people looking for a touch of things ethnic easily relate to Kuba cloth.   The cloth has appeared on the sets of popular TV shows such as Frasier and Law & Order.   And fine homes featured in upscale home dec magazines such as Elle Decor and Metropolitan Living have been showcased Kuba cloth pillows and decorative wall panels. I must admit I feel a sense of pride when I see Kuba cloth and other African artifacts in these settings.
Raffia is generally a strong fiber. Yet Kuba cloth can be quite delicate. If you treat it well, it will respond in kind and last a long time. However, if you abuse the fabric, it won't last long.

Where to Buy Kuba Cloth

Thanks to global trade and enterprising African merchants, Kuba cloth is widely available in the U.S. and Europe today.   Look for the fabric at museum shops, bead stores, African fabric outlets.  A keyword search on "Kuba cloth" will give you lots of on-line sources for fabric; some of which I have found very helpful.   The fabric is fairly expensive, however. $50 for a small piece is not uncommon. But the amazing beauty of the fabric makes it well worthwhile!

Quick Projects Using Kuba Cloth

Here are some quick projects in which you can use Kuba cloth.

Decorative Table Mats -- Use a great piece of cloth as a decorative center mat on a dining table or coffee table in your living room. Center the cloth on the table and place a vase of wonderful flowers on the Kuba cloth!
Pillows -- If you like to sew or know someone who can, pillows are a great simple project you can use to show-off your Kuba cloth. Make the front panel out of Kuba cloth and the back panel out of contrasting or matching fabric. Textiles with a visible texture such as linen, raw silk and hemp are great fabrics to use for the back panels for your Kuba cloth!
Decorative Wall Panels -- Sometimes the best and simplest way to show off your favorite Kuba cloth is to mount it on the wall in a simple wall panel. Mount your cloth in a clear acrylic frame so that the fabric is the focus of the piece. If your fabric is larger than frames available in your neighborhood store, you might have to get it professionally framed. A long panel of Kuba cloth can make a stunning statement. Several smaller panels, arranged in a row or square montage can have a similar effect. Play around until you are happy with the results.

Learning More about Kuba Cloth

The history and culture of Kuba cloth is fascinating. The cloth was once used as currency, and also as burial shrouds! Europeans and Americans who have encountered the cloth have been so fascinated by the fabrics, teams of anthropologists, historians and even mathematicians have traveled to Kuba territory to study how the Kuba make this amazing fabric!!
To learn more about Kuba cloth, simply turn the many resources now available.
Internet -- There is lots of literature available on-line. Do a search and you'll be amazed at the volume of information.
Books -- Many books have been written on or include information about Kuba cloth. A couple you can refer to are:

African Fabrics by Ronke Luke-Boone (ISBN-0873419146), Krause Publications 2001

Shoowa Design: African Textiles from the Kingdom of the Shoowa by Georges Meurant, (ISBN 0-500-97331-8), Thames & Hudson, 1986, 1995.

Museums -- Los Angeles County Museum has one of the largest collections of Kuba cloth in the U.S. and is a great resource to learn about the fabric. The Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian Institution and The Textile Museum in Washington DC also have very good references that you will find fascinating.

We will continue to design with Kuba cloth and hope you will explore this wonderful textile. And as you learn more about this textile, you'll find out why we find that it captures the sentiments of
MeZuri™, Me Beautiful™ ....

Best Regards,
Ronke & the Team at MeZuri!