How to Identify Original Ankara Fabric: 7 Simple Checks Before You Buy
Teni almost bought the wrong Ankara.
She was standing in a fabric shop in Lagos, holding two pieces that looked almost identical. Same colour combination. Same pattern. Even the same beautiful shine.
But something was bothering her.
Her tailor had already warned her: “Madam, please make sure the fabric is good. I don’t want to start sewing and discover anything later.”
Her sister’s wedding was less than two weeks away. Tolu did not have time to buy fabric twice.
So she put both pieces on the counter and started looking properly.
That was when she realised something many fabric shoppers learn the hard way: knowing how to identify original ankara fabric can save you from an expensive mistake.
She Was Not Looking for Just Any Ankara
Tolu wanted Ankara that would hold up properly after sewing.
She wanted the print to look sharp. She wanted the colours to stay beautiful. Most importantly, she wanted to wear the outfit to the wedding without constantly wondering if the fabric would disappoint her.
This is where many shoppers get confused.
Two Ankara fabrics can look almost the same when you see them quickly on a shop shelf or in a picture online. But when you touch them, inspect the print and look closely at the finishing, the differences can become much easier to notice.
So, before you pay for that fabric, slow down.
Look at it properly.
How to Identify Original Ankara Fabric
There is no single trick that can tell you everything about an Ankara fabric. Instead, look at several things together.
1. Look closely at the print
Start with the design.
A good Ankara print should look clear and well-defined. The patterns should not look excessively blurry, faded or poorly aligned.
Hold the fabric up and inspect the details.
If the design looks sharp and the colours appear well defined, that is a good sign. If the print already looks washed out while the fabric is still new, you may want to think twice.
Tolu did exactly this.
She stopped looking at the fabric from a distance and examined the pattern closely. One of the pieces immediately looked less impressive.
2. Pay attention to the colour
Colour matters a lot with Ankara.
That deep wine red, rich green or beautiful royal blue you fell in love with should still look convincing when you see the actual fabric.
This is especially important when shopping online.
A photo can sometimes make a fabric look slightly different from how it appears in real life, depending on lighting and your screen.
That is why it helps to shop from a seller that takes fabric presentation seriously and shows the colours as accurately as possible.
If you are buying for an important event, you do not want to discover that the shade is completely different after receiving it.
3. Feel the fabric
Now use your hands.
Original, quality Ankara fabric should have a firm, substantial feel rather than feeling unnecessarily thin or flimsy.
This does not mean every Ankara fabric must feel exactly the same. Different designs and fabric types can have different textures.
But if you pick up a supposedly premium fabric and it feels noticeably weak or poorly made, take another look before buying.
Tolu rubbed the fabric gently between her fingers.
“This one feels better,” she told herself.
Sometimes your hands notice what your eyes miss.
4. Check the finishing
Look at the edges and general finishing of the fabric.
Does it look neatly produced?
Are the patterns and colours consistent across the fabric?
Does anything look unusually rough or poorly finished?
These small details matter because Ankara is not something you are buying just to admire on a shelf. It will become a dress, skirt, top, two-piece or another outfit that you expect to wear confidently.
5. Do not judge by appearance alone
This is probably the biggest mistake shoppers make.
A fabric can look beautiful and still not be what you expected.
That is why knowing how to identify original ankara fabric requires more than checking whether the design is attractive.
Look at the print.
Feel the material.
Check the colour.
Inspect the finishing.
And, when possible, buy from a fabric seller you trust.
You are not just paying for a pretty pattern. You are choosing the material that will eventually become your outfit.
Why Tolu Decided to Check PR Fabrics
By Friday afternoon, Tolu was tired of searching.
She had already spent too much time scrolling through Instagram and sending fabric pictures to her tailor.
Then a friend mentioned that if she is looking for the best place to buy fabrics in Lekki, PR Fabrics is the one she check out first.
The store is in Lekki Phase 1, and PR Fabrics also has an online shop, which made things easier for Tolu. She could look through the available fabrics without turning fabric shopping into another Lagos road trip.
She sent a few pictures to her sister.
“This one.”
“This one is not the colour of the day”
“Try this colour.”
“Okay, this one is beautiful.”
Finally, they found one they both liked.
That was the part Tolu appreciated most. She was not simply choosing a random Ankara because she was in a hurry. She could take her time to look at the fabric and make a choice she felt confident about.
The Fabric Had to Work With the Outfit
Tolu had already shown her tailor the style she wanted.
It was a fitted outfit with enough room for the Ankara print to stand out.
That meant the fabric mattered.
A beautiful pattern can lose its effect when the material does not suit the style. The right fabric, on the other hand, can make a fairly simple design look much more intentional.
This is why fabric shopping should start before you are standing in front of your tailor with three hours to spare.
Think about the outfit.
Think about the occasion.
Think about the colour.
Then choose the fabric.
For a wedding, birthday celebration or owambe, that little bit of planning can save you plenty of stress later.
The Wedding Was Finally Here
Two Saturdays later, Tolu stood in front of her mirror.
Her tailor had done exactly what she wanted.
The Ankara looked vibrant. The pattern stood out. The outfit sat beautifully.
And then came the question she had secretly been waiting for.
“Where did you get this fabric?”
She smiled.
“PR Fabrics.”
That was all.
She did not need to explain the hours of searching, the fabric pictures she had sent on WhatsApp or the two pieces she had rejected before finding the one she wanted.
The final outfit spoke for itself.
So, How Can You Identify Original Ankara Fabric?
If you are still wondering how to identify original Ankara fabric, remember the simple checks Tolu used:
● Examine the print closely.
● Look at the colour and how clearly it appears.
● Feel the fabric instead of relying only on pictures.
● Check the overall finishing.
● Consider how the fabric will work with the outfit you want to make.
● Most importantly, buy from a fabric seller you can trust.
And if you are shopping in Lagos, PR Fabrics in Lekki Phase 1 is worth checking when you are looking for quality fabrics for your next outfit.
You can browse online or visit the physical store and take your time choosing something that feels right for the occasion.
Ready to start looking? Explore PR Fabrics and find your next fabric and get 5% discount on your first order.
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