The utilisation of kikoyi fabric blended with plain fabrics to create contemporary women’s wear

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the utilization of Kikoyi fabric blended with plain fabrics to create contemporary women’s wear in Kampala, Uganda. The study was guided by the following objectives: to identify the existing types of Kikoyi fabrics, to experiment with possibilities of fabric blends that enhance the functionality and versatility of Kikoyi fabric while retaining its traditional aesthetic, and to create contemporary fashion prototypes that incorporate fabric blends with Kikoyi Fabric. The research adopted a descriptive research design in Kampala, and purposive sampling was used to select 50 respondents. Observation, interview guides tool containing both closed and open-ended questions were hand-delivered to the respondents, and data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS). The study established that most of the boutique owners were not sure where the Kikoyi material is manufactured, though countries such as Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania were cited as countries where the Kikoyi material is probably manufactured. Various fashion designs that included Red Pattern Type 1 and 2, Multiple Colors in Types 1 and 2, Green Pattern Type 1 and 2 were mainly used in kikoyi making, and the red pattern type 1 and 2 are very common and exist in the market. The study established that the current kikoyi blended fashions satisfy the women clients, and contribute to the beauty and competitiveness. The study further established that kikoyi fabric material can be used as decorative accessories and crafts, and fashion design. kikoyi material is best integrated through the traditional wear, casual wear, office wear, party wear, and, most importantly, the traditional wear. The study revealed that it is very important to preserve the cultural authenticity of kikoyi traditional patterns while blending them with other fabrics. The textiles for making women's Kikoyi fashion blends should be breathable (allowing air and moisture vapor to pass through, enabling heat and sweat to escape from the body), durable, with a good texture, vibrant and easy to wash. Challenges such as a lack of aesthetic skill for the technical blending of kikoyi to match contemporary fashion trends for women, high cost of operation, especially for buying the raw materials, refunds to the clients as a result of the loss made due to poor quality blending, and globalization were cited by the respondents in this study. It is based on these results that the study recommended that fashion designers and boutique owners should appreciate the dynamics of culture and consumer demands while designing the kikoyi, they should consider enrolling in art and design institutions in order to seek professional knowledge and skills, the government should look into reviving our lost textiles industries, producing kikoyi fabric.