Category: blog

Unique patterns on wax-resist that normally take themes from our everyday lives, now come in the form of data fed into the machine and interpreted in it’s own particular ‘handwriting’. See more here.

New and improved to work on a larger scale.

Vlisco production number — 14/0575 Production date — 1933 Given names — Ludoking/Dice/le petit dé (Ivory Coast)/Kpékui (Small Stones, Togo) Dice symbolise the importance of making a good plan, reflected in the organisation of the stones.

The design represents eyes that are red with tears. Its official name is Onion Chips, but its alternative name is more appropriate: Eye of My Rival.

Vlisco production number — H313 Production date — 1940 In May 1940, a Portuguese trader named Nogueira arrived in Helmond in the Netherlands to order a custom-made Wax Block. He conceived an idea for a design with six spark plugs (bougies), indicating that its wearer had a six-cylinder car, a sign of wealth. During the […]

Vlisco production Number — 14/0017 Year of production — 1920 Education is a highly valued commodity in Africa. People wear this design to indicate that they went to school and know how to read and write. They also attach importance to a good education for their children, and they set aside money to provide it.

Education often crops up in conjunction with other more traditional African themes. A pattern called Hands and Fingers shows the upturned palm of a hand surrounded by rows of detached fingers, with the hand holding twelve pennies. This design is very old, with some sources dating it as far back as 1895, and has been […]

In addition to elections and revolutions, commemorative prints have celebrated all sorts of events: births and deaths; birthdays and anniversaries; pop concerts and sporting events; and presidential, royal and papal visits. Cloths have been commissioned and printed for chiefs and dignitaries, governments and NGOs, schools and colleges, companies and trade unions, missions and churches.