Where to Buy African Fabric in London

A guide to buying Ankara and wax print fabric across London, what to look for and where the best shops are in Peckham, Dalston and Brixton.

If you want African print fabric in London, whether for an outfit, a wedding, a christening or just because the colours pulled you in, the city is full of shops that sell it. Ankara, wax print and lace turn up by the yard in the markets and along the high streets where the West African and Caribbean communities shop. Here is what to look for and where to go.

Know your fabric

A few things worth knowing before you buy:

• Ankara and wax print are the bright, patterned cotton fabrics you see everywhere. Real wax print has the pattern printed through both sides, so check the back matches the front.
• Prices are usually by the yard, and outfits are often sold as a set length (commonly six yards) so there is enough for a full look.
• Lace and embroidered fabrics, often used for special-occasion dress, cost more and come in their own section.
• Aso ebi is the practice of a group wearing matching fabric to a wedding or event, so shops are used to selling several matching lengths at once.

What to look for in a shop

A good fabric shop has depth: rolls stacked to the ceiling, a real range of patterns and colours, and staff who know their stock. If you have a specific look in mind, take a photo, because the people behind the counter will often point you straight to something close.

Feel the fabric. Good wax print is crisp and substantial, not thin and flimsy. Check the print is sharp and lines up, and that the back matches the front on true wax.

Ask about quantities. If you need a matching set for a party or a whole aso ebi group, tell them, and they will sort the yardage.

The listings below show real fabric shops across London.

Where in London to look

Three areas stand out:

• Peckham in Southwark, especially around Rye Lane, is one of the best, with fabric shops and market stalls among the West African grocers. Browse fabric shops in Southwark to start.
• Dalston in Hackney, around Ridley Road market, has a long-standing run of fabric and haberdashery shops.
• Brixton in Lambeth, around the market and Electric Avenue, has fabric alongside the Caribbean grocers. See fabric shops in Lambeth.

Tottenham, East Ham and Woolwich are also worth a look if you are that way.

Buy it right

Take your time, feel the fabric, and check the print quality and the back. Buy enough for the full outfit in one go so the dye lot matches, and if it is for an event, tell the shop what you need. Many of these areas have tailors nearby too, so you can pick your fabric and get it made up close by. Whether you are dressing for a big occasion or just love the colours, London's fabric shops have you covered.

Written by See The Smoke · kept current from the directory, last checked 2026-09-07