Ankara is a fabric that’s been used for centuries in many West African countries. Yet, these days, it’s not relegated to just one region—nor is it only worn by those from those regions.
In fact, people all over the world now wear Ankara as a popular fashion statement.
In this post, we’ll explore some of the many styles you can create with Ankara fabric and how to achieve them.
From the traditional to the modern, there are lots of ways to wear this versatile fabric.
Table of Contents
Read on to learn about some of our favorite Ankara styles and how you can mix and match them for your perfect look!
What is Ankara Fabric?
Ankara fabric is woven cotton, rayon, or silk fabric with a distinctive pattern. It’s created by tying knots in the warp thread of the fabric before weaving.
The knots create an intricate, textured design that cannot be reproduced when the fabric is machine-woven.
Benefits of Wearing Ankara
Ankara fabric is a very versatile material. It can be worn in many different ways, from traditional to modern. Plus, the fabric is fairly inexpensive and available at any clothing store.
If you’re not sure how to wear Ankara, don’t worry! In this post, we’ll explore some of the styles you can achieve with this fabric and ways to mix and match them for your perfect look.
Ankara has been used for centuries in different African countries. But it’s not just relegated to West Africa anymore—it’s a popular fashion statement all over the world.
In this post, we’ll explore some of our favorite styles of Ankara and how you can mix and match them for your perfect look!
Styles To Try
*The Traditional Dress: This style is probably the most popular when it comes to Ankara.
It’s made with a long cotton dress that features tight sleeves that end in a cuff. You can also find an A-line cut for this style too.
*The Modern Tunic Top: We love tunics for their versatility and ease of wear. They’re great because you can layer them with anything you want or just wear them by yourself.
*The Classic Skirt: A classic African print skirt is one of the easiest ways to incorporate Ankara into your wardrobe without having to think too hard about what else to wear it with.
*The Cardigan Dress: An Ankara cardigan dress is perfect for formal occasions like weddings, parties, or even work events!
Traditional Style
Ankara fabric in a traditional style is usually made of bright, solid colors and is worn by men and women. It’s also usually made from cotton and has an African tribal vibe to it.
This style can be found among West Africans in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Benin, Angola, and the Congo.
The traditional Ankara is usually seen at weddings, parties, and ceremonial occasions like funerals. This style is also seen on the heads of dancers in countries like Sierra Leone.
Modern Style
If you’re looking for a more modern look, then this is one of our favorite Ankara styles.
To get the look, pair your Ankara fabric with some black trousers or black jeans and top it off with a white blazer.
You can also opt for an all-white ensemble if you want to keep things simple. For accessories, complete the look with either large hoop earrings or oversized bracelets.
If you want to keep your hair up, try braiding it in several different directions. This will give the illusion that there’s more hair than there actually is!
Street Style
Ankara’s street style is perfect for the fashionista with a sense of adventure. Mix and match some modern or trendy pieces to your outfit with Ankara fabrics.
Mix and Match Ideas for Everyday Wear
Since Ankara is so soft and comfortable, you can wear it all year long. This fabric also drapes really nicely, which makes it an easy choice for everyday wear.
Pair your Ankara skirt or dress with a t-shirt or blouse for a casual look. For work, try pairing your Ankara top with a pencil skirt for a more professional look.
You can also keep things casual by wearing an Ankara scarf around your neck or on your head.
As you can see, there are endless options to choose from when mixing and matching your Ankara pieces!
Mix with Bohemian Style
One style that’s been popular lately is the boho-chic look. This style is all about blending different fabrics and patterns in an artsy, bohemian way.
Ankara can be a great fabric to add to this look because it’s so versatile. You can wear it as a dress, an overcoat, or any other patterned piece you want to add to your outfit—the pattern just adds more textural dimension.
The Ankara Pantsuit
Suit pants are usually considered business attire. But, for those who want to mix things up a little, an Ankara suit is an excellent option. You can wear any color shirt with this look.
