The influence of foreign decoration on women's cultural fabrics in Ankole region; a case of Kazo district

Abstract

The study examined the influence of foreign decoration on women's cultural fabrics in the Ankole region, using Kazo District as a case study. The independent variable was foreign decoration while the dependent variable was women's cultural fabrics. The study was guided by the following objectives; to examine the extent to which foreign concepts of decoration have influenced women's cultural fabrics, to ascertain the factors that influence the choice of clothing among Ankole women, and to suggest design motifs for women's fabrics that promote Ankole cultural values. The study adopted a descriptive research design that was both qualitative and quantitative. The study comprised of a sample size of 98 and included: 01 tribal leader, 04 craftsmen, and 95 women decorators were randomly selected. The tribal leader and 2 craftsmen were selected purposively. The data collection methods were questionnaire surveys and interviews. The study also used a questionnaire and interview guides as data instruments. The collected data were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. According to the findings, the influx of foreign fabrics into Ugandan societies has influenced women's fabrics in Ankole Region. The findings revealed that many factors influence women's choice of specific fabrics. These include a specific type of fabric based on its suitability to an occasion, event, or condition; thus, the type and style of fabric to be worn were determined by the occasion. The study's findings also revealed that women cared deeply about quality while remaining committed to the fabric's affordability. The findings revealed that foreign magazines are the source of their foreign fabrics and that they also get their choices of foreign fabrics from the television and social media the study's findings revealed that foreign fabrics breed indecency and that Ankole cultural fabrics are poorly patronized. According to the findings of this study, aesthetic factors influenced women's fabric selection. Findings also show that foreign fabrics have unique designs, indicating that many Ankole women shopped for such fabrics. Women believed that limiting the importation of foreign fabrics would promote Ankole traditional fabrics and that dressing in fabrics designed in Ankole, wearing fabrics with materials or garments originating in Ankole, and intensive education on the importance of our Ankole culture fabrics would promote Ankole traditional fabrics. The study concluded that foreign decoration has a significant influence on women's cultural fabrics in Ankole region because foreign fabrics came with unique designs and are attractive therefore many of the women in Ankole patronized such fabrics. The influence was both positive and negative. On the positive side it was found that foreign fabrics promoted the quality of the fabrics and on the other hand foreign fabrics lead to erosion of Ankole culture that was portrayed through fabric designs that contain Ankole cultural values. The study recommended limiting the importation of foreign fabrics to promote Ankole traditional fabrics the study also recommended that Ankole women should dress in fabrics designed in Ankole to promote Ankole culture. The study also recommended intensive education on the importance of Ankole cultural fabrics to promote Ankole traditional fabrics. The study recommends more research to be carried out to determine the effects of foreign styles of dressing on locally made and designed clothes in Uganda.