I love kikois and have used them since I was a teenager. They become so soft with washing and wearing. I generally sleep under one when it is hot, and use one as a sarong/beach towel/skirt on the beach. When it is too hot to wear much at home I wear one wrapped around me as a dress. Being 100% cotton, kikoi doesn’t make you sweaty, and dries so quickly after washing.
I have had the same yellow and orange kikoi since 2008. I also have a pink and blue one. True kikoi have the colour woven and not dyed, so my yellow one is probably a distant relative rather than the real thing, though I bought it at a local market.
and I have this one with African animals on it.
A kikoi is basically a rectangular piece of cloth that you can use in different ways:
- to sleep under when it is hot
- light blanket
- curtain
- skirt
- sarong
- beach towel
- baby sling
- cover for couch or bed
- tablecloth
- shawl
- scarf
- turban
and if you are nifty with knots (I am not, which is why I have never been able to be adventurous with a sarong)
- bag
- halter neck dress
You can find kikoi easily online and in African stores. I definitely recommend!
I had no idea what a kikoi was and fast forward one hour later and one if on its way to me!… It’s from Tanzania. Thank you again for the inspiration!
I am so glad you like them! Let me know what you think when you get it. I use mine for all kinds of things – even as a picnic blanket for me to sit on. What colour/pattern did you get? Traditional Ethiopian blankets are also lovely but much warmer. Too hot for this weather…
The one I got is red with a design in the middle. I’m going to try to post the link here and hopefully you can see it. If not, I’ll send you some pictures: https://www.etsy.com/de-en/listing/1497148158/beach-towelpareocover-upsarong-tie?show_sold_out_detail=1&ref=nla_listing_details
I wonder if it’s going to be too warm but I was thinking about using it as a picnic blanket or even for the beach. I can’t wait to get it! Thank you again for your recommendation!
Have you seen these things in Africa? Janet lives in Stockholm, but was born in South Africa. She certainly gets her money’s worth out of them.Clare xxSent from Samsung tablet.
Pretty!!
And the kikois are nice too – especially yours!
I fell in love with it. It is not as soft as my old one yet but that will come! I have been sleeping under it the last week!