Slip on sandals made of traditional Kente cloth are perfect for special occasions. Originally, Kente cloth was only worn by royalty, but today Kente cloth slip-on sandals are popular among men, women, and children around the world. Here's some key things you need to know about slip on sandals made of traditional Kente cloth.

What is traditional Kente cloth?

Kente is a traditional Ghanaian textile that was first made of raffia fiber. Nowadays, it is made of interwoven cotton. Traditional Kente cloth was originally worn by the Ewe and Ashanti royalty on special occasions like weddings and funerals. Today, it is widely adopted by people around the world. Kente cloth is handmade, so designs can never be precisely replicated. In every pattern, there is a hidden message from the artisan to the wearer, and that is what makes Kente cloth so special. The tradition has not completely disappeared. Kente patterns are still worn during special occasions. Traditionally, special colors exist for different occasions. 

Kente cloth colors and meanings

Traditionally, weaving was done with black threads, but artisans soon figured out how to make green, yellow, and red dye from natural resources. Over time, more colors were added, but these are the basic colors of Kente cloth. Each color has its meaning. Following are the traditional meanings of the colors in Kente cloth. 

• Black: passing – funerals – maturity – spiritual energy – mourning.
• Green: spiritual growth and renewing – land – crops – harvest – growth
• Yellow: monetary wealth – fertility – high worth – royalty – prosperity – richness
• Red: funerals and mourning – death
• Blue: love and harmony – peace – togetherness
• Gold: monetary wealth – fertility – high worth – royalty – prosperity – richness
• Grey: symbolizes ash – cleansing rituals – healing rituals
• White: purity – festivals – cleansing rituals
• Maroon: healing – mother earth
• Pink: feminine – mildness – femininity
• Silver: reference to the moon – peace – joy
• Purple: respect – royalty – transformation – mystery – wisdom

Kente cloth pattern

Kente cloth patterns are diverse. In total, over 300 patterns exist, and they are all designed by hand. Weavers use both their hands and feet to operate the loom, which requires extensive training. Some patterns are more expensive than others depending on the time, skill, and variety of thread involved. The most expensive pattern known is the Adwene asa which literally means “my skills are exhausted.” Every pattern is unique in its own way, because weavers draw their inspiration from their daily lives. This allows them to continue to create new patterns.

How Kente cloth is used in slip on sandals

In times past, traditional Kente cloth was worn as one full piece of woven cloth, draped over clothing, but in modern times, you can find Kente patterns in all kinds of clothing and accessories as well. Think for example of handbags, skirts, tops, pants, and even shoes and sandals. At Kwame Baah, we dedicate ourselves to creating sturdy, fashionable, and human-friendly slip on sandals and footwear made of traditional Kente cloth. If you shop with Kwame Baah shoes, the colors may slightly vary from the photo. There are two reasons for this. One is that as the Kente cloth is cut, each shoe will get a different section of the intricate pattern. Even the left and right foot of a pair of sandals might have slight variations, but this lends to their uniqueness! The second reason for variations is that each shoe is handmade and therefore no two will be precisely alike. The quality of our footwear remains the same.

Our slip on sandals are suitable for a variety of occasions. For example, you can wear them on casual Fridays at the office, but also on a night out. Traditionally, Kente cloth was made for special occasions, which also means that you can wear slip on sandals made of traditional Kente cloth to events like weddings and funerals. So basically, a pair of Kente cloth slip-on sandals will always come in handy. 

Supportive, ethically made and unique slip on sandals

As awareness grows about how clothing and other products are made, more and more attention is being paid to the welfare of workers and the resources behind their purchases. Many companies are working to ensure workers are treated ethically and materials are used in sustainable ways. Kwame Baah Shoes was established to provide a living wage to its employees in Ghana. Our employees formerly had few employment opportunities, low wages, and little or no way of living a decent life. Now, with the living wage they earn at Kwame Baah, they can provide for their essential needs if not more.

We employ local artisans to handcraft slip on sandals for people around the world. We are not only committed to our employees but also to providing sandals and shoes of the highest quality. They are made by people with extensive experience and with respect for nature. For example, the soles are made from soft, ethically produced ethylene-vinyl acetate. This provides not only comfort, but also the support you expect from slip-on sandals.

Searching for the perfect footwear for this summer? Look no further. The Kente cloth slip on sandals from Kwame Baah come in a variety of colors and designs, so there's always a pair to match your fashion style. In addition, you can walk around with a pair of Kente cloth slip-on sandals with confidence, knowing there is a family in Ghana that has a better quality of life simply because you chose to shop with us. 

How to maintain your new Kente cloth sandals

Unique sandals are sandals you like to take care of. Yet we know from experience that keeping sandals clean is not always easy, especially when the sandals are worn by children who play outside. That's why it's good to know how to keep our sandals clean. This is the step-by-step plan that our craftsmen recommend.

Start off with a brush. You can use either a soft shoe brush, a scrub brush, toothbrush or sponge. Dry brush your Kente cloth slip on sandals to get rid of dirt and debris. In some cases, brushing your Kente cloth slip on sandals will be enough to clean them properly.

Mix lukewarm water with a bit of detergent. Don’t use too much detergent. We recommend using a quarter of a teaspoon to 1 quarter of water. If you use too much detergent, it might leave a residue in the fabric.

Use a brush to rub the mixture into stains. If you immerse the sandal in the solution, it will take longer for it to dry. Removing a stain with a brush will prevent this, and it gets the job done equally well.

Next, use a clean and damp cloth to wipe off the sandals. This will allow you to remove all soap residue. If you cannot get all the soap out of the sandals, briefly rinse it under running water.

Allow your slip on sandals to air dry. They have to be completely dry before you can wear them again. If possible, dry them in the sun for quicker results. Drying your sandals in the sun can also prevent odors. You can also put a crumpled up newspaper inside of the slip on sandal to speed up the process.

It is possible that one scrub is not enough to get rid of the stain. If you are dealing with deep stains, repeat the process a couple of times. You can also add a tiny bit of dish soap to the detergent solution to get rid of deep stains.

That’s how you keep your slip on sandals made of traditional Kente cloth as good as new! The great thing about the fibers, patterns, and colors of Kente is that they rarely show dirt, so they won’t require frequent cleaning. Enjoy an ancient tradition with a modern, stylish flare on your feet! Your Kwame Baah slip on sandals are bound to be great conversation starters. Ready to order yours? Click here!