How is Kanvô made? Weaving and craftsmanship in Benin
How is Kanvô made? This Beninese fabric is hand-woven on traditional looms, generally in the form of bands that are then assembled.
Preparing the threads, adjusting the loom, applying tension, and passing the weft: each step depends on the weaver's movements. This manual manufacturing process explains the variations in texture and visible irregularities from one piece of Kanvô to another.
In the Abomey region of Benin, artisans continue to practice this craft. Rosyne Club works with this material while preserving the characteristics associated with its hand-weaving.
To discover the history and origins of this material, read our article dedicated to Kanvô and its Beninese heritage.
How is Kanvô made?
The making of Kanvô begins with preparing the threads and the loom.
The threads are arranged to form the warp of the fabric. The weaver then gradually constructs each band by passing the weft threads through.
The work requires constant coordination between the hands and feet. The feet operate the different parts of the loom, while the hands guide the passage of the thread and control the construction of the fabric.
The tension setting, weaving rhythm, and precision of the movements directly influence the final appearance of each band.
Once several bands have been made, they are assembled to obtain the width of fabric needed to make a garment.
Hand-weaving Kanvô
The Kanvô used by Rosyne Club is hand-woven. This manufacturing method gives the fabric a texture and structure that differ from those of an industrially produced material.
The weaver is directly involved at every stage. The consistency of the movements, the tension applied to the threads, and the loom settings gradually influence the material.
Two hand-made bands are therefore never perfectly identical.
This difference is part of Kanvô and its manufacturing process.
The work of the artisan weavers of Abomey
In the Abomey region of Benin, artisans continue to work on traditional looms.
The technique develops with experience. Preparing the threads, adjusting the loom, maintaining tension and controlling the weaving rhythm: each stage contributes to the final result.
Behind a strip of Kanvô lie several hours of preparation and weaving.
This work requires precise control of the loom and continuous coordination of movements.
These are the gestures that gradually give the fabric its structure, texture and variations.
Why does Kanvô have irregularities?
When Kanvô is examined closely, small differences may appear in the weave.
A line may be slightly irregular. A strip may vary in width or tension. The texture may also change subtly from one area to another.
These variations come directly from hand weaving. They are not manufacturing defects.
On the contrary, they make the craftsmanship recognizable and explain why two pieces made with Kanvô may show slight differences.
For Rosyne Club, these irregularities should remain visible. They are part of the material.
How are Kanvô strips assembled?
The traditional handloom generally produces relatively narrow strips of fabric.
Once the weaving is complete, several strips can be joined together to form a textile surface wide enough to make a garment.
Assembly then becomes an additional stage in working with the material.
The arrangement of the strips, their variations and their joins directly contribute to the garment's final appearance.
From loom to garment
Once the strips have been made and assembled, Kanvô can be cut and integrated into the garment's construction.
Rosyne Club uses it in different ways depending on the garments. Some creations place Kanvô front and center. Others combine it with denim or other materials.
The cutting process must take the structure, texture and variations of the fabric into account.
Kanvô can therefore be used for jackets, waistcoats, trousers, tunics, or other Rosyne Club silhouettes.
Why Rosyne Club preserves Kanvô's variations
Completely standardizing Kanvô would mean erasing part of what identifies its method of production.
Rosyne Club therefore preserves the variations resulting from hand weaving when the material is incorporated into a piece.
A difference in texture or alignment may therefore remain visible on the garment.
These characteristics help preserve the connection between the finished fabric and the weaver's work.
Discover Rosyne Club pieces featuring Kanvô
Kanvô is used alone or combined with other materials depending on the design.
Discover the Rosyne Club collections:
→ Jackets
→ Trousers
Questions about the production of Kanvô
Is Kanvô handwoven?
Yes. The Kanvô used in Rosyne Club creations is handwoven by artisans on looms.
Why is Kanvô made in strips?
Artisanal weaving makes it possible to produce strips of fabric that are then assembled to obtain a surface wide enough to make a garment.
Why can two Kanvô pieces be different?
Hand weaving naturally results in slight variations in texture, tension, or alignment. These differences are part of the fabric and make each piece slightly different.
Where is the Kanvô used by Rosyne Club woven?
Rosyne Club works in particular with Kanvô made by artisan weavers in Benin, especially in the Abomey region.
Are irregularities in Kanvô defects?
No. The small variations visible in Kanvô are related to its hand weaving. They are part of the characteristics of this artisanal material.
History and origin of Kanvô
This page is dedicated to the production and weaving of Kanvô. To discover its history, origin, and place in Benin's textile heritage, see our article Kanvô: a living Beninese heritage.