Written by Lize Becker Shweshwe – also known as ‘German print’, ‘ujamani’, ‘shoeshoe’ or ‘sis’ – is a vibrant fabric embraced by many different cultures, but quintessentially African. Some say it is named after the swishing sound shweshwe skirts make when walking, while other sources indicate the fabric was first known as seshoeshoe, named after King Moshoeshoe I of the Basotho, who received the fabric in 1840 as a gift from French missionaries, and popularized it throughout his reign. The vivacious 100% cotton fabric in the variety of colours and patterns that we adore today, was originally only available in...