The Historical Origins of Isishweshwe

I have looked at the historical origins of Isishweshwe to help me and the reader understand or to have an idea of how the blue cloth was discovered in South Africa. According to Pheto- Moeti (2017: 25) Isishweshwe or blue cloth originated in Europe from cloth imported from India. During the 19th century, the European textile manufacturers developed a printing style on indigo-dyed cotton fabric see Figure 1 because the plant used for indigo dye could not grow in the cold European climate (ibid).

Figure 1: The Invention of Copper Engraving, plate 19

Pheto- Moeti et al (2017: 25) states that around 1890 a German factory developed a synthetic indigo dye that is still used today. The fabric was manufactured and printed in Czechoslovakia and Hungary by Gustav Deutsch, who migrated to England in the 1930s. Where the factory was later bought by Blue Printers Ltd in Wigan. Four companies were producing this print style,
the largest being Spruce Manufacturing which produced the most popular brand name of Three Cats, which was exported to South Africa
The blue cloth was introduced to South Africa by the German Settlers in 1858/9 after they settled in the Eastern Cape and Natal. The fabric was imported from Europe to meet the demand of the German settler women, African women had gradually replaced their animal skin garments with cotton ones, they began to dress in European style dresses see figure 2&3

Figure 2- Xhosa Traditional Clothing. [ONLINE]

Figure 3-  European Garments. [ONLINE].