Mabwe African Print Chevron Backpack

African patterns meet denim on this colourful and iconic African chevron print inspired backpack.  Carefully crafted to give you the ultimate balance between functionality and an urban look.  The backpack is full-sized and can easily hold a 15″ laptop, with plenty of room for other essentials. 

Design Features:

• generous zip close front utility pocket
• two zip close side pockets make organising bits and bobs a treat!
• Fully lined
• sturdy and ergonomic shoulder straps with dynamic size adjustment for the perfect fit.
• Drawstring and buckles for secure closure
• Mixture of sturdy denim and woven cotton and polyester fabric.

Dimensions:

Width – 25cm
Height – 40cm
Thickness – 15cm
Shoulder strap length – adjustable

Design Inspiration

Africa has a wealth of patterns featured in art, crafts, fabric design and ancient architecture too. Repetitive shapes and colours, textures and lines are often laid out in all sorts of intriguing arrangements. Linear and organic geometric patterns featuring diamonds, triangles, lozenges, triangles, square chequerboard, parallel zig zags, chevrons, dots, circles, curved lines or waves and spirals are the most used shapes. Arranged repeatedly in vertical or horizontal rows, they can be interchanged or scaled up or down for dramatic effects like the pattern featured on the Mabwe African print chevron backpack:

The name ‘Mabwe’ is derived from the Shona phrase ‘dzimba dzemabwe’ which means ‘houses of stone’ or ‘stone buildings’. The most iconic ‘dzimba dzemabwe’ is Great Zimbabwe –  the ruins of the ancient capital of the Munhumutapa Empire near the present day town of Masvingo in Zimbabwe. Chevrons and zigzags feature distinctively in the architectural design of the Great Zimbabwe walls as shown below:

Chevron stone pattern, Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe has a rich history, not only of architectural achievement, innovation, cooperation and economic prosperity, but also of conflict, trials and tribulations.  

 Did you know?

The Southern African country Zimbabwe derives its name from ‘dzimba dzemabwe’ or “houses of stone” in Shona. Its use as the country’s name is in tribute to Great Zimbabwe, the site of the capital of the ancient Munhumutapa Empire.