Kaolack Créations
Unisex Sleeveless Vest in Handwoven Ashanti Kente – Throne Motif
Unisex Sleeveless Vest in Handwoven Ashanti Kente – Throne Motif
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A unisex sleeveless vest in genuine Ashanti kente, handwoven in the Kumasi region. Its black and white pattern represents the throne of the Ashanti, the Sika Dwa Kofi, which according to tradition holds the soul of an entire people. Closed with a zip and fully lined in black cotton poplin, it is made for women and men alike.
- Limited edition: Ashanti kente is a rare cloth. Only a few pieces are made, depending on the cloth available.
- Genuine Ashanti kente: a cloth handwoven in narrow strips, its patterns created by the thread. Never printed.
- Unisex, one size: a clean, straight cut designed for women and men.
- Practical: a full-length zip and two patch pockets with rounded corners.
- Careful finishing: V-neck, armholes and edges trimmed with black binding.
- 100% cotton: handwoven cotton cloth, fully lined in black cotton poplin.
A vest to wear all year round: over a T-shirt in warm weather, over a shirt or a turtleneck in winter. Add it to your cart.
The Ashanti throne, woven into the cloth
For the Ashanti, an Akan people of central Ghana, a seat is not just a piece of furniture. Each carved stool is bound to the soul of the person who owned it. The most sacred of all is the Sika Dwa Kofi, "the golden stool born on a Friday."
Oral tradition tells that a little over three centuries ago, the high priest Okomfo Anokye brought it down from the sky to Osei Tutu, the first king of the Ashanti. He declared that the soul of the nation lived in it: the living, the ancestors and the children yet to be born. No one sits on it, not even the king. The Golden Stool never touches the ground and rests on a seat of its own, beside the Asantehene.
In 1900, the British governor of the Gold Coast demanded to sit on it. The Ashanti took up arms behind the queen mother Yaa Asantewaa: this was the War of the Golden Stool. The throne was never handed over.
This throne has become a symbol of all of Ghana. In Accra, Jubilee House, the seat of the presidency, was built in its image. The weavers of Bonwire brought it into the cloth: it is what the pattern of this kente represents.
Wearing this pattern means wearing the image of a people who refused to give up their soul. In Akan tradition, black speaks of maturity and the bond with the ancestors, white of purity and festive days.
To learn more about this cloth, read our article Ashanti Kente, Ewe Kente and Kita and, for other symbols of the Akan world, Akan weights and Adinkra symbols.
Woven in Ghana, made in Senegal
Our Ashanti kente comes from Bonwire, the weaving village near Kumasi, where we have worked with Daniel since 2020. The cloth is woven there in narrow strips, then sewn edge to edge, pattern against pattern. It then travels to Rufisque, in Senegal, where Matar, our tailor, cuts, lines and assembles it. Meet our artisans.
Materials and care
Cloth: Ashanti kente, 100% handwoven cotton. Lining: black cotton poplin. Closure: full-length zip.
Cold wash only, preferably by hand. No tumble dryer: dry flat, in the open air. Iron inside out.
Because the cloth is handwoven, the placement of the patterns may vary slightly from one vest to another: each piece is unique.
Styling tips
For men, wear it zipped over a black T-shirt and black chinos, or over a chunky ecru sweater in winter: the contrast does all the work. For women, wear it open over a loose white shirt and wide-leg pants, or over a cream turtleneck with a straight skirt, under a long coat.
For a complete outfit, pair it with our black and white Ashanti kente pencil skirt, also woven in Bonwire. The royal blue and golden yellow Yaa pencil skirt is named after the queen mother Yaa Asantewaa. For jewelry, the bronze Akan weight choker carries on the Akan story, and the polished bronze bangle warms up the black and white.
Frequently asked questions
Is this vest for women or for men?
Both: it is a unisex piece with a straight cut that suits women's and men's body types.
Which size should I choose?
It comes in one size, with a straight cut that suits many body types. Not sure? Compare with a vest or jacket you already wear, read our guide to sizes, silhouettes and cuts or come and try it on at Kama The Shop.
Why a limited edition?
Because Ashanti kente is rare. It is woven by hand, strip by strip, and we only make this vest as and when we bring cloth back from Bonwire.
What does the pattern represent?
It represents the throne of the Ashanti, the Sika Dwa Kofi, which according to tradition holds the soul of the Ashanti nation: the living, the ancestors and the children yet to be born. This same throne inspired the shape of Jubilee House, the seat of Ghana's presidency in Accra.
Is the pattern printed?
Never. It is created by hand weaving: the threads that draw the pattern are inserted during weaving, strip by strip.
Where is it made?
The cloth is woven by Daniel in Bonwire, near Kumasi, in Ghana. The vest is cut and sewn by Matar, our tailor in Rufisque, Senegal.
How does it close?
With a full-length zip. Wear it zipped or open.
Does it have pockets?
Yes, two patch pockets with rounded corners.
Is it lined?
Yes, fully, in black cotton poplin. The vest is 100% cotton.
When can I wear it?
All year round: on its own over a T-shirt in warm weather, layered over a shirt or a turtleneck in winter, under a coat.
Can I give it as a gift?
Yes, and it makes an ideal gift for a man or a woman. For him, it is a bold, easy-to-wear piece, over a black T-shirt or a shirt. For her, it is a graphic piece that gives structure to a white shirt or a turtleneck. You can even give it to a couple, one each. Its one size means no guesswork, and you are giving a limited-edition piece in genuine handwoven Ashanti kente, with the story of the Golden Stool it carries.
Where can I try it on in Paris?
At Kama The Shop, 51 rue Vauvenargues, 75018 Paris, Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30 am to 7:30 pm, Porte de Saint-Ouen metro station.
Also explore all our Kente & Kita pieces, our African jackets, coats and kimonos, our reversible unisex long vest and all our African fashion.
Kaolack Créations
Since 2016, Kaolack Créations has brought to life a contemporary African fashion rooted in the continent's crafts. We choose genuine handmade African cloth, not printed patterns, to create distinctive pieces where textile heritage meets today's style. We work directly with our artisans over the long term and respect the prices they set. Every purchase helps value their work and pass on these crafts. Meet our artisans.
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