Grown. Dyed. Woven. Worn.
Kanga Kabisa
Handwoven & Traditional Cotton Textiles from Zanzibar
Cotton Grown
Tanzanian cotton prized for its exceptional quality, softness & sustainability
Traditional Dye
Traditionally hand-dyed for vibrant, lasting colour and character.
Woven by Hand
Traditional wooden looms in Zanzibar each thread is lovingly woven by hand
OUR STORY
The Best Solution For Your Textile And Garment Needs
Kanga Kabisa is a women-led textile and garment small manufacturing enterprise (SME) based in Zanzibar, rooted in the cloth traditions of the Swahili Coast. Our work begins with cotton grown in Tanzania. The yarn is hand-dyed, then stretched across traditional wooden looms in Zanzibar, where each thread is placed and woven by hand. From this cloth we create garments, bags, and accessories in small, carefully made batches.
- This is slow cloth. Hours of colour, tension, and rhythm become a single length of fabric.
- We keep our designs intentionally simple, so the weaving — its texture, movement, and subtle irregularities — remains visible.
- Every piece carries the memory of the loom and the hands that guided it.
Ayesha Afzal
Fashion Designer
About Us
Kanga Kabisa began as a community-based initiative and was later developed into a textile and garment studio by Sabrina Faraji. It is now led together with Ayesha Afzal, expanding the brand into new creative and international directions.
Alongside production, Kanga Kabisa also functions as a training and capacity-building space, supporting young women and youth to build professional skills in weaving, tailoring, and textile production.
Sabrina Faraji
Founder
THE FABRICS
Handwoven Kikoy
Kikoy is a lightweight, breathable cotton cloth traditionally worn along the Swahili Coast.
Kanga Kabisa Kikoy
Our kikoy is made from hand-dyed yarn, woven on traditional looms in Zanzibar
Each Kikoy is Unique
Each length of kikoy is unique — no two are exactly alike.
Kikoy Products
We create shawls, dresses, shirts, & wraps to let the woven texture speak.
THE FABRICS
Traditional Khanga
Khanga is a cloth of colour, symbolism, and communication across East Africa. Our khanga pieces use designs and messages specific to Zanzibar, reflecting local culture, expression, and everyday life.
We transform this expressive cloth into dresses, kaftans, jackets, and bags that carry both meaning and beauty.
THE FABRICS
Traditional Khanga
Khanga is a cloth of colour, symbolism, and communication across East Africa. Our khanga pieces use designs and messages specific to Zanzibar, reflecting local culture, expression, and everyday life.
We transform this expressive cloth into dresses, kaftans, jackets, and bags that carry both meaning and beauty.
OUR BENEFITS
Our Collection
Across East Africa, kikoy and khanga has long been a way to express identity, meaning, and emotion. Our pieces draw directly from Zanzibar, using locally inspired designs and messages rooted in the everyday life of the island:
- Handwoven kikoy shawls, dresses and shirts
- Khanga dresses, kaftans and jackets
- Bags and accessories made from khanga
- All pieces are handmade in small batches.
- No two garments are exactly alike.
NEWS, SHOWS & EVENTS
The Sharjah Festival of African Literature 2nd Edition
Kanga Kabisa is honoured to participate in the African Literature Festival in Sharjah as part of the official Zanzibar cultural delegation.
Sabrina & Ayesha invite you to experience their cloth in person — to feel the weight of the weaving, see how colour lives in the yarn, and understand what it means for a garment to begin on a loom
Contact Us
Please Email Us
TESTIMONIALS
What Our Customers Say?
The quality and meaning behind Kanga Kabisa really stand out. The fabric feels beautiful, and the designs tell a story that feels personal and authentic. It’s something I’m proud to wear and share.
Kanga Kabisa combines tradition with a very modern style in a way that feels genuine and completely unique. The craftsmanship is excellent, and you can feel the care that goes into every piece.
