colorful scarves

Forever inspired by the vibrant colors adorned during traditional celebrations and festivities, artisan Rachel Armah uses lively shades of indigo, maize, and crimson to create this stunning kente scarf. The Ghanaian artisan uses a traditional loom to create the rich cotton blend kente fabric, typical to the Akan ethnic group of West Ghana. The scarf is called obaapa, meaning "virtuous woman" in the Ghanaian Akan language.

Wrap yourself in comfort and style with this hand-dyed batik scarf from by Ghanaian artisan Gladys Ayorkor Ayi. Dark shades of purple amethyst edge the sides leading to carefully tied fringe at each end to give it a one-of-a-kind look. Whether heading to a dinner party or out for a romantic moonlit stroll, this scarf is sure to be admired.

Crafted in bright yellow, K. Baka's colorful scarf is one accessory you'll want to wear all winter long. On 100% cotton fabric, the artisan uses batik dyeing methods to create a baby elephant motif in yellow, brown, and blue. A row of fringe on either end adds a playful element.

Woven by hand, three strips of traditional West African kente cloth become a colorful scarf. Deborah Osei Boakye continues her grandfather's craft with this extraordinary design. Each strip of kente cloth requires considerable effort, and the looms are worked with both hands and feet. Each color has its own meanings in Ashanti culture, and the patterns themselves are carefully chosen symbols, which a master weaver develops and names. This design is named Nsatsia, meaning "fingers" in the Akan language. Its motifs suggest interlocking fingers from both hands.

The rich tradition of Akan kente cloth is celebrated by Ghana's Rachel Armah. Using cotton and rayon blend fibers, she weaves a single strip on the traditional hand loom. Colorful motifs decorate the cloth, which makes for an excellent scarf. The scarf is named Fathia, an Akan name.

Originated by the Akan peoples of Ghana, colorful kente cloth is the best-known of all African textiles. Kente is woven by hand in strips, which is how it came by its name (kente means "basket" in the Ashanti dialect). Ghana's Rachel Armah creates this colorful cotton blend scarf in cheerful shades of blue, pink and cream. The scarf's width allows it to double as a shawl.

In kente cloth, each color has a symbolic meaning: black symbolizes maturation and intensified spiritual energy; blue signifies peacefulness, harmony and love; green symbolizes vegetation, planting, harvesting, growth, and spiritual renewal; gold represents royalty, wealth, high status, glory, and spiritual purity; grey is for healing and cleansing rituals; maroon signifies the color of mother earth, associated with healing; pink and purple are associated with the female essence and female aspects of life; red symbolizes political and spiritual moods, bloodshed, sacrificial rites and death; silver is associated with the moon and represents serenity, purity, and joy; white is for purification, sanctification rites and festive occasions; and yellow represents preciousness, royalty, wealth, fertility, and beauty.

Ghanaian artisan Rachel Armah celebrates the rich tradition of Akan kente cloth. Handwoven on the traditional loom using cotton and rayon blend fibers, it features two strips of cloth that are then sewn together. Colorful motifs decorate the cloth, which makes for an excellent scarf. The scarf is named Fathia, an Akan name.