First Year Student

I took this photo last night of a first-year student in class. In the late 1800's, Xhosa King Sarili introduced imported German roller-printed cotton fabric to the kingdom. Women began adopting these brightly patterned fabrics, eventually creating the iconic umbaco—a heavy cotton fabric traditionally featuring black geometric braids and patterns, paired with vibrant beadwork. OBSERVATION: Women's clothes evolved, too, to signify their age, social standing, and marital status. You may click on the photo to enlarge.