Kikoys and Khangas - the indispensable authentic Kenyan cloth!

Kikoys - multipurpose and versatile
Kikoys are the most beautiful pieces of woven cotton, rectangular in shape, traditionally a garment for men which have now evolved into an invaluable item of clothing for all ages, sizes and sexes!There are hundreds of ways to wear a Kikoy and masses of uses for them, from a sarong to a sling or a turban to beach towel, or a cover up to a curtain. Embrace the ethos of Kikoys!

Kikoys are exclusive to the East African coast, in particular Kenya, where they are woven with the finest cotton grown in the region.

A Kikoy (also known as 'kikoi') is by no means a simple rectangle of pure cotton, but a work of art inspired by the vibrant colours of the coastline in this area, using old methods combined with new colourfast dyes.

Cloth with a thought - Khanga
A Khanga is a brightly coloured piece of cloth that many East African women wear. Many wear khangas over their skirts while working in the fields to keep the dust of their skirts. Khangas are also worn as head wraps.

A khanga is roughly 5 feet by 3 feet which makes it perfect for wrapping it around one's self. Generally, there is a border pattern around all four sides of the khanga with a central design in the middle. There is always a proverb - usually in Swahili - at the bottom of a khanga.

The word 'Khanga' is Kiswahili for 'guinea fowl'. This name came about because khangas were originally several brightly coloured Portuguese handkerchiefs, intended for gentlemen, sown together to make a piece of cloth large enough to be worn around the body. These cloths were called khangas because the bright colours reminded people of guinea fowls. Later on, when the khanga was produced in mass, some had a guinea fowl motif which reinforced the name khanga. The khanga cloth is a very lightweight, loose weave fabric.

Khanga, a tradition of over 80 years
Khangas have been around for 80-plus years now. In the last decade, they started to fall out of favour as younger women preferred to dress in a more westernized style. However, a fusion of fashion is bringing back to life this amazingly versatile cloth!

Carry home a bit of African Culture with you! Do not leave Kenya without a Khanga or Kikoy… for yourself or your loved ones… it makes a truly treasured gift.