Just for fun -- Masai tartans

[Brasilikilt]

Years ago while watching a show about these tribes on the travel channel I thought the same thing!
I remember discussing the resemblance of it to "kilt cloth" with somebody and got a "dude, you're an idiot" kind of response.
At least now I'm not the only one who has drawn the seemingly obvious parallels

[Sherry]

I, too, appreciate the education available on this board. Thanks for letting us know, Matt.

Sherry

[cloves]

sorry to ressurect such an old thread. But has anybody tried making a kilt out of Masai tartan? What material is the cloth? wool?

[Blu (Ontario)]

sorry to ressurect such an old thread. But has anybody tried making a kilt out of Masai tartan? What material is the cloth? wool?

An interesting thought, but I suspect that if there was such a kilt, that it would have been built from a custom weave fabric.

.

[MacWage]

Now its returned . . .

I've always wondered if the tribal African tartan-esque materials pre-dated or post-dated their contact with highland regiments.

Also, if there is a significance to either the colors or the patterns. Red=Warrior has already been said, but is there more?

Curious and Curiouser,

[cloves]

if anybody knows the answer to the pre or post question it'd be Matt Newsome. I'm just curious about what and where the "tartan-esques" are made. Right there on the savannah? on a loom? out of what?
A kilt made out of the stuff would be a really cool concept.

[cloves]

necroposting again...but, Greg's post reminded me that I never did get an answer to my question about what those beautitful Masai tartans are made of. Anybody?

[sydnie7]

No clue about the fabric content, but here's what Wikipedia has to say about color and pattern. Being a newbie to this forum, I'm debating whether or not to place emphasis on the sentence "Pink. . .is not shunned by warriors."

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Clothing varies by age, sex, and place. Young men, for instance, wear black for several months following their circumcision. However, red is a favored color. Blue, black, striped, and checkered cloth are also worn, as are multicolored African designs. The Maasai began to replace animal-skin, calf hides and sheep skin, with commercial cotton cloth in the 1960s.[58]

Shúkà is the Maa word for sheets traditionally worn wrapped around the body, one over each shoulder, then a third over the top of them. These are typically red, though with some other colors (e.g. blue) and patterns (e.g. plaid.) Pink, even with flowers, is not shunned by warriors.[59] One piece garments known as kanga, a Swahilli term, are common.[60] Maasai near the coast may wear kikoi, a type of sarong that comes in many different colors and textiles. However, the preferred style is stripes.[61]
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Somebody like this http://www.africanfabric.co.uk/Fabrics.htm might be able to answer the question and advise about availability.


Sydnie