What Are Kente Socks? The Story Behind Ghana's Royal Cloth
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Kente cloth is one of the most recognisable textiles in the world. Woven by the Ashanti and Ewe peoples of Ghana, it is a fabric of royalty, ceremony, and cultural pride. And now, it lives on your feet.
The History of Kente Cloth
Kente (known as nwentoma in Akan) has been woven in Ghana for over 400 years. Originally worn exclusively by Ashanti royalty, Kente became a symbol of wealth, status, and cultural identity. Each colour carries meaning: gold represents royalty, green symbolises growth, red signifies political passion, blue represents peace.
Kente in the African Diaspora
During the 20th century, Kente cloth became a powerful symbol of Pan-African identity and Black pride. It is worn at graduations, civil rights marches, Juneteenth celebrations, and HBCU events across the United States.
Kente Socks by Afropop Socks
Our Kente-inspired socks feature bold geometric patterns in rich gold, green, and red. Each pair is designed in London and crafted with premium cotton blend. Shop our full African socks collection or explore our Mystery Box of 5.
Free US shipping on orders over $50. Worldwide delivery available.
About the Author
Isaac Prempeh is the founder of Afropop Socks, a British-Ghanaian designer and entrepreneur based in London. He founded Afropop Socks in 2019 to celebrate authentic African cultural heritage through bold wearable design. Afropop Socks is now stocked at the Smithsonian NMAAHC, Tate Modern, V&A Museum, Natural History Museum, Barbican Centre, Selfridges, and MoMA New York.