Plus Size Kanga or Lamba

A Beauty Plus

Ethnic outfits provide wonderful ways for the plus size woman to make a fashion statement. Kangas are perfect for the full figured woman; these traditional African wraps are the ultimate cover-up for the beach, pool, health club, or just lounging around the house.

While the kanga originated in Kenya; Kanga Proverb cloths, also called leso, khanga, or lamba, are used and worn throughout coastal East Africa and Madagascar. The term lamba in its most general sense signifies cloth or clothing. It also refers to a particular rectangular shoulder wrap or scarf regarded as the national clothing for the Madagascar people. In the central highlands of Madagascar, it is particularly a powerful symbol of highland identity. Worn throughout a person's adult life, lamba are traditionally made of natural cotton, or better yet, of silk, and are preferably hand-woven.

There are numerous other subcategories of lamba, each designated by a particular name, shape, material, and use. The lamba hoany, however, is arguably the most omnipresent textile in Madagascar and the only one that is historically and consistently factory-made. Lightweight and inexpensive, the cloth is used and worn daily by virtually every adult male and female in Madagascar's expansive rural landscape.

Although most often used as a work cloth that can be easily washed and quickly dried, the kanga or lamba is not only beautiful but versatile. As clothing worn primarily by women, the cloth may be worn in several ways. If the temperature drops, it may be wrapped around one's shoulders as a shawl. If it becomes exceedingly cold, the cloth's upper edge may be slipped over the head so that the shawl becomes a hooded cape that one holds tightly below file chin. Although not heavy, they help trap body heat and provide a protective layer against the cold. Or it can be tied around the waist as skirt, with another lamba used as a top.

Many people in Africa use lamba as aprons to protect their more expensive clothing while working. For particularly messy or wet jobs, a person might simply wrap a lamba around the body under the armpits, as one would wear a towel after a shower. When not in use, simply twist the cloth into a long rope and tie it around the waist like a belt.

They also transport small objects by bundling them in the cloth. They also twist the length of a lamba, coil it into a small doughnut shape, and place it on the head to create a base for carrying a heavy load. Brightly colored raffia baskets are often sealed by tucking a lamba around the edges. Lamba can also be used as a sling in which to carry a baby on one's back.

In the middle of the century, textile factories in Africa and Madagascar began to create proverb cloths for their own markets. Use of proverb cloths has spread to all the African coasts and into Europe, with the accompanying texts in the appropriate languages.

Today factories in India are the dominant cloth-producers for all the regions. Misspellings frequently occur on proverb cloths, probably because many are made abroad for a foreign market in a foreign language.

In Madagascar, it is said that kanga must have misspellings to be considered true kanga, suggesting that this is part of the mystique.

Lamba or kangas are today generally made of cotton, rayon, or a cotton-rayon blend, and include an overall pattern of repeating designs, often with a central medallion, surrounded by a decorative border. Kanga produced in India are characterized by their brilliant, saturated palettes and designs framed by ornate borders.

Often worn in pairs, these lightweight cloths make a lasting impression not only for their brightly colored designs, but also for the messages that are emblazoned upon them.

Inscriptions incorporate proverbs, popular sayings, greetings, warnings, and various slogans in a multitude of languages, just above the lower border. These sayings can be about almost anything such as "Fikasana ny anao fa ny didy any tompo": "The intention is yours, but the command is the boss'". The proverb or saying printed on the cloth does not necessarily relate to the imagery.

These vivid, multi-functional prints make striking headwraps, pool wraps, dresses for plus size women. Lightweight, easy towash, they are perfect for hot weather. They also can be used as table covers, and wall hangings, too!