add color to your life!

rags ‘n prints

I’ve always wondered ‘why would anybody want to go see a seamstress to have custom-made outfits or buy from their inventory while we have so many choices from the clothing stores. then it hit me that the answer is not further than looking at myself. when I was young, I got tired of tailors who failed to make the clothes that I wanted in the styles that I wanted.

not everybody has dressmaking skills but you don’t have to. ain’t it great that you can have an idea, any vision for apparel and have someone make them for you while you take care of the things that matter in your life? 

rags ’n prints is an online store where you buy african clothing. it’s based in the washington dc suburb of clinton, md. we aim to provide ready-to-wear ankara gowns that are cool and make you look beautiful. we make unique garments that fit your body, style and budget in our studio. our goal is to offer modern african styles of attire that use authentic traditional african cotton material such as wax print fabric, mud cloth and indigo. most of the fabrics are eco-friendly and made of natural fibers sourced from africa or inspired from it.

you may have been wearing that old denim to death until it gets boring. so why not put some africa proud on this perennial wardrobe staple? we add prints and give them a new life. rags ’n prints offers a wide range of denim+ankara styles, also called african jeans – from jeans jackets with ankara patches to skirts and pants. check our jeans with prints outfits that you can wear and look contemporary while making an ethnic statement.

hemp is so raw that it was not thought of as material for clothing. at rags ’n prints we see beauty in its texture and started using it combination with african textiles to offer you a way of wearing eco friendly as well as making an ethnic statement. I saw a piece of the fabric at joann then I thought I could make a nice burlap jacket with art deco print out of it. encouraged by the results, I went on to make other styles of jacket and shorts in burlap. recently, if you’re into sustainable fashion, you can find stylish hemp clothing to make a unique statement as well as save the planet!

rags ’n prints has long been using mud cloth (‘bogolanfini’ which literally means ‘mud cloth’) to make all kinds of african inspired fashion items from jackets, coats to our popular mudcloth bucket hats. the fabric which originates from mali gets it’s distinctive rustic colors from dyes obtained from the mud. it has long been frowned upon and used only in ethnic home decor until it started being used to make african traditional garb, it surged in popularity as it found its way into the wardrobes of western men and women. you can have all types of mud cloth garments or accessories in our store, either ready to wear or custom made to get a unique outfit that is a timeless piece. if you have another idea in mind, you can still grab a blanket or two for your next project.

african print, also called wax print or ankara fabric has long appealed to the tastes of west african women who adopted it as their favorite cloth for dresses, skirts and head wraps. we use this colorful print to make ethnic-inspired garment for the modern women like you. people are slowly rediscovering its rich beauty, aided by designers who featured them on the runway and some celebrities showing off their colors in african fashion. rags ’n prints has been empowering women by helping them in the fabric selection, design and cut ’n sew process to deliver a finished outfit in contemporary style that fits your curves and budget. check our store for your next summer outfit. we have ankara shorts and dresses, african crop tops and skirts in a variety of colors and styles.

in a sense rags ’n prints clothing celebrates the vibrant cultures of africa without sacrificing the modern look. we borrow from global fashion: from the sleek angles of italian design to the draping ample shapes of japanese traditional wear and african robes and dresses, it’s a mix of afro-eurasian forms of expression.

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