How to sell African print fabric and kente online

To sell African print fabric online, photograph each design flat and draped in daylight, sell by the piece (usually 6 yards) or by the yard with stock tracked per design, and take orders through an online store with mobile money for buyers in Ghana and card for the diaspora. Fabric buyers want to see the real colour and quality, so photos and honest descriptions do most of the selling.

Ankara, wax print and kente sell all year: for weddings, funerals, church, festivals, office "Fridays wear" and to Ghanaians abroad who miss home. Here's how to sell them properly.

1. Know your fabric

Be specific about what you sell. Buyers know the difference and will ask:

Wax prints from the big brands, and cheaper prints that look similar. Say which is which.
Kente: hand-woven, machine-woven or printed kente patterns. Price and describe them differently.
Adinkra and batik cloth.
Lace, voile and George for occasions.
Pre-cut bundles for families or group outfits ("aso ebi" style orders).

Never pass off a cheaper print as a premium brand. Honest labelling is what keeps buyers coming back.

2. Photograph the print

One flat photo of the whole width so buyers see the full repeat.
One draped or folded photo to show how it falls.
A close-up of the weave or the selvedge (the edge with the brand name).
A photo next to something for scale, like a phone or hand.
A sewn example, if you have one. People buy the outfit they can imagine.

Shoot in daylight. Indoor bulbs change colours, and "it looked blue in the picture" is a common complaint.

3. Decide how to sell it

By the piece: a full piece (often 6 yards) or half piece. Simple for buyers.
By the yard: use options for 2, 3, 4 or 6 yards, each with its own price.
Bundles: a family pack, or matching fabric for a couple.

On Paylead, add each design as a physical product and use options for lengths. Each option has its own stock, so you never sell yards you don't have.

4. Offer sewing, too

Many buyers want the outfit, not the cloth. Partner with a tailor and sell:

Fabric + sewing as one product, with a deposit for the sewing.
A sewing add-on as an order bump: "Add sewing for GH₵ 150".

See how to sell made-to-measure clothes online for collecting measurements.

5. Set up your store

Open your free Paylead store.
Add each design with photos, fabric type, width and length.
Set your delivery fee for Ghana, and give diaspora buyers a separate shipping price.
Turn on pay on delivery for local buyers if you want it.

Buyers in Ghana pay with MoMo. Buyers abroad can try Visa or Mastercard; some foreign banks block payments to Ghana, so keep a backup like a relative paying by MoMo. See how to sell to the Ghanaian diaspora.

6. Sell to groups

Weddings, funerals and church anniversaries often need the same fabric for many people. Make it easy:

Create one product for the group fabric with a clear price per piece.
Share one link with the organiser to send to the group, so each person pays themselves.
Track every payment in your orders instead of chasing a list in WhatsApp.

7. Get buyers

New arrivals on your WhatsApp status every week, with prices and your link.
Styling videos on TikTok and Reels: one fabric, three outfits.
Tailors and stylists as affiliates who earn on every buyer they send.
Festival seasons: Homowo, Aboakyer, Kwahu Easter and December weddings.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a piece of African print in Ghana?

It depends on the brand, quality and length: cheaper prints cost far less than premium wax prints and hand-woven kente. Show your price on every product so buyers don't have to ask.

Can I sell kente to customers abroad?

Yes. Price shipping separately, pack the cloth flat in a waterproof bag, and send tracking. Card payments often work for diaspora buyers, and a relative in Ghana can pay by MoMo when a foreign card is declined.

How do I stop colour complaints?

Shoot in daylight, show a close-up, and add "colours may look slightly different on screens" to your product description.

Open your fabric store free →