Material Women? The Shweshwe Story

From 22 Feb 2013 to 30 Dec 2014

23 Feb 2013-31 Dec 2014. This exhibition displays a series of costumes, accessories and contextual images collected by Dr Juliette Leeb-du Toit, which retrace the origins of isishweshwe cloth.

It focuses on the roots of this cloth as a trade item in Asia and 17th-century Europe until it became established as a successful and iconic southern African material. This ethnic-print cotton fabric, synonymous with traditional African dress, is widely used as an apron of the Xhosa makoti as well as high fashion clothing by western women. The material collected by Leeb-du Toit over many years was donated to Iziko in 2012.