Founders' Collection

Collected over 40 years of African travel

When Magie Relph first set foot in an African market as a cook/campmaster on a trans-Africa overland expedition, she was after onions and tomatoes. That was in 1984.

Pretty soon, though - blown away by her first taste of African wax prints - she added fabric to her shopping list.

Along with her husband Bob Irwin, Magie kept travelling. They've explored 34 of Africa's 54 countries - and counting - researching, documenting and buying textiles.

By the Millenium - with www.africanfabric.co.uk up and running - Magie and Bob were full-time itinerant traders in African fabrics.

Jump cut to 2024. Magie and Bob have finally retired, sort of. In May they passed The African Fabric Shop and website on to Jenny Hall and Wally Bahoum.

So: what is exactly is our Founders’ Collection?

Well, on all those travels, in all those markets, meeting makers and traders from Agadez to Zanzibar, there were a lot of textiles and artefacts that Magie just couldn’t resist.

Here are some them. Browse and enjoy.