Textile Innovations in Pictorial Scenery in Traditional Weaving: A Socio-Cultural Exploration of Asante Kente and Ewe Kete Traditional Weaving Techniques

Abstract

This study explores how the Asante Kente and Ewe Kete weaving cultures have been adapted and hybridized into pictorial textile scenes in combined plain-weave and double-picking styles based on the two areas. The study was meant to establish the way to innovate traditional weaving knowledge without violating cultural authenticity and community acceptance. The qualitative methodology was adopted, where purposive sampling was used to identify six master weavers, four apprentices, six consumers, and two cultural custodians. Interviews, participant observation, and weaving-based practical experiments were conducted on a traditional loom with modified heddling and double-pick techniques to facilitate representational imagery generation of data. The operationalisation of authenticity involved motif naming procedures, cultural meaning-based colour symbolism, and approval by the community elders. Community acceptance was assessed with the help of interviews feedback, weaving guild reviews, and a mass demonstration in one of the local museums. The evidence shows that pictorial weaving was technically possible but challenging, and the hybrid method gave familiar animal and object images without breaking cultural norms. The pictorial textiles were of significant interest to the younger consumers, particularly in the decorative and fashion applications, and the diaspora inquiries were indicative of the potential to emerge markets. Although very few direct economic data are available, pre-orders and commissions indicate that commercial relevance is possible. The paper concludes that Kente and Kete fusion provides a good avenue of artistic development, cultural maintenance, and the future of market involvement.