How to Wear Kente Cloth

In many cultures, it's tradition to wear certain clothing to a special occasion, such as weddings, holidays or any day of significance. Kente cloths are worn in much the same manner. Developed in Ghana in the 12th, many choose to wear a kente cloth for special occasions today.

Instructions

1. Understand the meaning behind the kente cloth. They signify the importance of the occasion and in some cultures may suggest how much status and wealth the person has. It represents history, religious beliefs and political thoughts. With such heavy meaning woven into the kente cloth, it's not meant for ordinary wear, so it's reserved for special occasions.

2. Give a kente cloth as a gift on occasions such as weddings, graduations or child naming ceremonies. Because each kente cloth's pattern has an individual name and meaning, the cloth signifies the importance of the day and carries a special message for the recipient.

3. Center yourself in the middle of the cloth holding the width of the cloth in each hand, having the cloth across your backside. Keep the woven pattern straight, both horizontally and vertically and the bottom edge of the cloth should stay even and straight along the bottom. This should have extra fabric at the top, which you should gather and hold in each hand.

4. Drape the left side of the cloth over your left shoulder and arm. The extra fabric will be hanging on the inside.

5. Enfold the fabric from the right side underneath the arm and across the body and place it over your left shoulder.

6. Take the cloth that is covering the left arm and place it over the cloth on the left shoulder so both arms are now exposed and the bulk of the cloth is lying on the left shoulder. Wrapping is quite similar to a toga style.

7. Wrap a women's kente around the body, underneath the arms exposing the shoulders, around the waist to wear as a skirt with a solid colored blouse or wrap around the shoulders to wear as a shawl.

Resources

• Click here to buy at kente cloth for a special occasion.