Many people have seen the cloth that African clothes are made of. Traditionally, the fabric is usually very brightly colored and is a form of wearable art. The patterns and colors vary from one region to another and the techniques for spinning thread and weaving the fabric are handed down from generation to generation. Often women would be responsible for spinning thread and in many cultures it was actually the men that did the weaving of the fabric.

There are several different types of fabric that is used to make traditional African clothing. They include Aso oke fabric and Adire fabric both of which are made by the Yoruba. Aso oke is the fabric and Adire refers to a tie dye process that is used to create patterns in the woven cloth. Other types of African textiles include Kente cloth, which is made by the Akan ethnic group, Barkcloth, Mudcloth, Kanga and Kitenge.

African clothes are usually loose fitting and very comfortable. An outfit may vary from region to region. In some areas, a long robe or dress may be worn by both men and women. They may also be influenced by the cultures from other countries which surround an area where a piece of clothing comes from. Full African outfits normally also include a head wrap or hat that varies from region to region.