By Iziko Museums of South Africa
Iziko Museums of South Africa
The story of IsiShweshwe is a long and complex story of intercontinental trade and cultural exchange. Although it's roots are linked to colonialism, it is also tied to missionary movements and political resistance.
IsiShweshwe and Colonialism
The cloth known as amajamane, amajerimane or isishweshwe has its origins in the East, and was originally made from cotton and blue dye from the indigo plant. Through trade, it spread to different parts of the world including the Cape, where it was initially worn by slaves, Khoisan and colonialists. The earliest origins of isishweshwe can be traced back to the craze for colourful indiennes (Indian cottons) which spread like wildfire across Europe from the mid-1600s. The complicated techniques for making multi-coloured indiennes in Central Europe were eventually adapted to the use of one colour only: indigo.
Overall for domestic worker (2010) by UnknownOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
Overalls worn by a domestic worker.
Indienne
One of the oldest artefacts in the isishweshwe collection, this dress is an example of 'Indienne'. It is made of Indian cotton (chintz or calico) and has a continuous pattern of delicate intertwined stems bearing leaves and flowers. The dress originated on the Coromandel coast of India in the third quarter of the 18th century. Indian chintz was extremely popular throughout the eighteenth century, and was imported into the Netherlands by the Dutch East India Company, thus making it available at the Company's halfway station at the Cape.
Blaudruck
Simplified resist-dyeing techniques were used to create a fabric of small, white, regularly spaced patterns on a deep blue background. This was known in Germany as 'blaudruck' (blue print). This fabric was transformed into garments for work-wear and peasant-wear, and became associated with European regional and Protestant dress, as well as expressing nationalist sentiments. When German missionaries and traders immigrated to the Eastern Cape and other parts of southern Africa during the mid-1800s, they brought their 'blaudruck' with them and traded with those they came in contact with. It became popular amongst women on mission stations. This fabric was later adopted by IsiXhosa women in the Eastern Cape to produce garments.
Dress with apron-style detail (2006) by UnknownOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
Selection of Isishweshwe fabrics to sew by UnknownOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
Origins of the Name
There are two competing accounts for the origins of the name isiswheshwe. Some say that it is onomatopoeic and simply reflects the sound of the material swishing with the movement of the wearer. Others argue that it was named after the Sotho King, Moshoeshoe who was given indigo-printed cloth as a gift by French missionaries in the early 1840s.
IsiShweshwe and Political Resistance
Just as the identities of its wearers have changed over many years, the fabric has evolved from its first context as a trade item and missionary-inspired garment. It was used extensively as a political statement against apartheid in South Africa, and even as a show of solidarity by liberals and left-wing groups.
Top (2008) by UnknownOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
It is common to see Nelson Mandela's face printed on an isiShweshwe garment.
Jacket (late 1970's) by Marie PeaceyOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
Teaching Needlework
In the mid-1980s, as part of a campaign to encourage a means of income amongst women in the apartheid-era Ciskei homeland, Marie Peacey was invited by Nico Ferreira, then Chancellor for Lennox Sebe (President of Ciskei), to teach needlework. For a period of 13 months, she spent alternate weeks at the Ciskeian Small Business Corporation in Mitford, where she taught women to make mola applique squares, which she then assembled into jackets, waistcoats, etc., for sale in clothing boutiques.
Dress (2005) by Jolle Van GraanOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
Albertina Sisulu, known as Ma Sisulu, was a South African anti–apartheid activist, and the wife of fellow activist Walter Sisulu.
Maternity Jumpsuit (c. 1980) by Ann FinchamOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
In the 80s, wearing isishweshwe printed fashion items was a sign of solidarity from white South Africans, liberals and left-wing groups.
Child's dress (1990s) by UnknownOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
Dress of Makoti or newly-married Xhosa woman (2012) by UnknownOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
The Dress of Makoti
This is an example of the dress of makoti. To show respect and submission to the authority of her husband and parents-in-law, traditional practice dictated that a newly-married Xhosa woman would wear her ikhetshemiya (headcloth) low over her forehead, keep her shoulders covered, cover her hips with a blanket and wear a isishweshwe skirt and apron. She should stay with her parents-in-law for up to a year, a period during which her behaviour conveyed that she adhered to ukuhlonipha traditions of respect. Aspects of this practice are still present but are being eroded with urbanization. Head cloth, blanket and towel on loan from Siphokazi Mesele, nee Lindelwa Pamela Mbola, who wore them when she was makoti.
Swazi man's amabutho outfit by UnknownOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
Swazi Man's Amabutho Outfit
This is an example of a Swazi man's amabutho outfit. The Sidvashi (skirt) can be red, maroon or brown isishweshwe, and must be covered by a majobo (lionskin) of leopard, duiker, reed buck or even baboon pelt, worn at the front and rear. In this case the pattern on the isishweshwe is libululu (snake) - the Swazi king's favorite.
Ohorokweva onde (dress) (2005) by UnknownOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
Herero women in Namibia, with their distinctive headgear, use isishweshwe.
Skirt-and-top outfit (2012) by Meiga AbdoulayeOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
Dress by Malian designer Meiga Abdoulaye. He derives inspiration from his home, Timbuktu.
Dress with head cloth (2008) by (possibly) Senagalese designer Elijah Liziwe Komanisi CissOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
Dress (2005) by Amanda Laird CherryOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
Dress designed by acclaimed South African designer Amanda Laird Cherry.
Dress (2010) by UnknownOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
Dress made for Design Sector (2006) by UnknownOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
Dress (2013) by Cheryl Arthur, designer for Afro DivaOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
Dress by Cheryl Arthur, designer for Afro Diva for the Iziko Museums of South Africa IsiShweshwe collection.
Skirt (2005) by Lisa Jaffe of the Lysof Design SchoolOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
Skirt designed by Lisa Jaffe of the Lysof Design School.
Pair of wedge shoes with isishweshwe designs (2012) by Amanda Laird CherryOriginal Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
Wedge shoes designed by Amanda Laird Cherry.
Purses (2012)Original Source: Iziko Museums of Cape Town
IsiShweshwe accessories, like these purses made by the Etafeni Centre for Thunga, are popular with locals and tourists in South Africa.
Iziko
The Iziko Museums of South Africa’s Social History Collection comprise unique, precious, very rare and culturally significant collection(s) of artefacts. These include furniture, art, textiles, ceramics, anthropological items, historical objects, maritime archaeology and paper collections. They are historically and culturally significant in terms of representing South Africa’s cultural diversity as well as with regard to their value, aesthetics and rareness. They range from artefacts from the early Stone Age, slavery and the colonial period to the struggle against apartheid and the achievement of democracy. In addition, some of these collections, from antiquities to the present, are from around the globe, linking South Africa with other countries.
Social History Centre by Carina BeyerIziko Museums of South Africa
The Iziko Social History Centre
The Iziko Social History Centre is situated in Church Square, Cape Town. It is housed in the magnificent former National Mutual Life Association of Australasia building, designed by Sir Herbert Baker and Francis Masey in 1905.
Iziko’s Social History Textile Collection
The isishweshwe collection forms part Iziko’s social history textile collection. A large part of this collection was donated by Dr Juliette Leeb-du Toit, an art historian who studied the cloth in the South African context over many years. She had conducted extensive research into its origins, significance (both past and present) and had investigated the development of its meaning, within various branches of South African culture, from its earliest roots to its present status.
Created by Lynn Abrahams and Sarah Schäfer.
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