When it comes to African fashion, you really need to know your colors. It’s all about the African colors. With the ever increasing interest and demand for African dresses, it should not be forgotten that patterns and colors on African fabrics have rich history going back thousands of years and they represent various things.

Often, designers speak to what inspires them, through the mix of prints (textile?) they combine. Let’s uncover them together:

Black: Maturity, determination, intensified spiritual energy. It also represents the black race.

White:  Purification or innocence. Mostly used during sanctification rites and festive occasions

Yellow: Preciousness, royalty, wealth, fertility

Blue: Peacefulness, harmony, justice, perseverance, love and freedom

Orange: hope

Red: Courage, Political and spiritual moods; bloodshed; sacrificial rites and death. The blood unites all people of African ancestry and the blood that is shed for black liberation.

Green: Vegetation, planting, harvesting, growth, spiritual renewal. It is a medicinal color that symbolizes prosperity and life and it is worn often during the adolescence of a young girl.

Gold: Royalty, wealth, high status, glory, spiritual purity Maroon represents: The color of mother earth; associated with healing

Pink, is associated with the female essence of life; a mild, gentle aspect of red

Purple, is associated with feminine aspects of life; usually worn by women

Silver, represents: Serenity, purity, joy; associated with the moon

Grey,:  Healing and cleansing rituals; associated with ash These colors are of great significance to Africans, it represents their struggles, their battles, their blessings, their unity and their hope for a better future.

It is a part of who they are and what they stand for and believe in. Knowing the symbolic meanings of color and design in African clothing helps you understand  the culture and the rich history of the African styles that one can find today. Whatever your ethnic heritage may be, you can find an African style that reflects your identity and your good taste too.

An African fabric that expresses who you are, in the best possible way. There are a lot of choices — now you know African colors, you can confidently explore the  variety and the quality makes you enjoy your individuality.

What are your thoughts, let us know in the comments.