Kente 18mm Square Cufflinks – Antique Bronze

Cufflinks enable the wearer to make an outfit their own and they certainly make a huge difference when matched with a shirt or suit. Add an elegant touch of Afro Caribbean finesse to your outfit with a stunning pair of cufflinks. It shows your attention to detail! Our Cufflinks are meticulously hand crafted and mounted on a swivel t-bar fitting.

Key design features:

• Intricately handmade using African wax print fabric
• Cufflinks topped with toughened glass.
• Swivel t-bar fitting
• perfect for any occasion and style.

Fabric inspiration

According to Ashanti legend, two farmers, Krugu Amoaya and Watah Kraban, from the village of Bonwire, came across a spider, Ananse, spinning a web. Amazed by the web’s beauty, the farmers returned to their homes eager to try and recreate the web.  They wove a cloth first from white, and then black and white fibres from a raffia tree.  They then presented their cloth to the Ashanti Asantehene, or king, Nana Osei Tutu. Fast forward to today, Kente is one of the prominent symbols of African arts and culture and has been embraced by the broader African diaspora. The GAVASTIE Collection features a number of products in Kente inspired Kente. Search ‘kente’ or ‘kenterised’ on this site to find out more.

Interesting facts

The stitched buttonhole and shirt cuff as we know it was developed in the 17th century. Tailors fastened cuffs with two ornamental buttons attached by a chain and these were called ‘boutons de manchettes’ in French, or ‘sleeve buttons’. Sleeve buttons became popular with the upper classes and jewellers began to create sleeve buttons in silver and gold, adding semi-precious gemstones or stamped designs and thus the cufflink was born. 

Since their creation, cufflinks have been seen as a symbol of status for gentlemen with luxury gold and gemstone cufflinks seen as a symbol of wealth, power and reputation.

Cufflink Styles and materials have changed since the 17th century, but Some traditions from the history of cufflinks still remain today. Cufflinks are often given as gifts, especially for the groomsman at a wedding or to celebrate a special ceremony. The cufflink is a staple part of high society,  fashion and a symbol of status.