Bella Naliaka made Jochen a pair of lined kikoy curtains with rich African style and fresh green tones, bringing warmth and function to his home. What's your wish? →
View material & custom-made details
These custom lined kikoy curtains 245×135 cm were made by Bella Naliaka as a pair of full-length window curtains with a woven African textile look and a more practical lined finish. They are a useful example for anyone considering custom curtains in exact sizes, especially when they want locally woven fabric, standard rod hanging, and a balance between decorative stripes and everyday use.
- Request: The project called for two matching curtains, each 245 cm long and 135 cm wide, with a top finish that would work with a standard curtain rod.
- Final result: Bella Naliaka completed a pair of lined kikoy curtains in the requested size, using Kenyan woven striped fabric rather than printed fabric.
- Design details: The chosen kikoy featured regular multicolor stripes including purple, brown, light blue, dark blue, green, and orange, giving the curtains a softer African-inspired look than bold print motifs.
- Fit and use: The added lining helped the lighter woven fabric feel more substantial and made the curtains better suited for interior use where coverage, drape, and a neater finished look matter.
- Process: Progress photos were shared during making, and the finished curtains were later confirmed to fit perfectly with great quality.
Every unique piece tells a story. What’s yours?
This design was custom-made exclusively for Jochen. Let it inspire you: customize this design to fit your vision or start with a completely new idea. You chat directly with our artisans, and we handle the secure process.
A request by Jochen from Berlin, Germany
I would like to have a curtain with African prints. Green should be an essential color. One should be 245 cm long and 135cm wide and a need two items of the same size. On the top there need to be a possibility to fix standard roles (see photos)
The Journey of Creating Custom Lined Kikoy Curtains 245×135 cm
Negotiation & Planning
Custom Lined Kikoy Curtains 245×135 cm - design ideas and artisan proposals
Hi Bella,
I like the second one (blue with the yellow flower) most.
(www.urbanchangelab.com/wp-content/uploads/gravity_forms/14-40f01aec2dc5c7fb6102a8c135cfdd87/2016/04/IMG_2669.JPG)
In regards to your question: "7000 Kenya shillings for both curtain pieces. But if you desire them to have gathers so as to create a much more fuller look, it will cost you 13,000 kshs. This is because I will be required to use double the amount of fabric."
I would like to go for the cheaper option without gathers.
Hi Bella, I just have seen that the fabric I have chosen has a mark "Made AS Nigeria". This make me wonder, if the fabric is a cheap import form China? Could you please have a look into this and confirm? If I am correct, I would appreciate if you could provide samples of fabric only produced in an African country. Thanks for your effort.
Hi,
With regards to the fabric, most of ankara fabric, like the ones shown in the photos, are printed either in holland or china. The prints are african inspired though. But for hand printed african fabrics like mud cloth ( from west africa) or ikat , the colors are limited and they tend to be quite expensive to buy.
Did you have anything else in mind perharps?
Hi Bella, thanks for your feedback! I am quite open to the style but really want something produced in Africa. So would it be possible, that you provide some samples from fabric produced on your continent.
Let me do my research. Will let you once I find something
Thanks for your effort.
Hi,
I do have another suggestion for African fabric. It's called kikoy and is woven here in Kenya. It is striped in terms of print. It's higher in price compared to the Kitenge fabric I had earlier sent. I have sent pictures for you to have a look. If we go with this type of fabric the curtains will cost 10,500 shillings.
Let me know what you think
Hello Bella, thanks for suggesting the Kikoy version. Yes, I like this idea. If we go with the stripes I would prefer something which is more brown or beige. Can I ask you for a view sample photos?
Sure I can send you photos of the ones that fall within that range.
Please find the following color ranges that I have able to get. Not exactly brown or beige though. Let me know if there is anything that catches your eye
Hi Bella,
they all look good. I prefer on the second last picture the one with the regular lines in purple, brown, light blue, dark blue, green, orange. I think lining is required as the fabric looks thin. Looking forward to seeing the final product.
Regards
Jochen
Okay. that should be the first roll of fabric in image 7. I will look for an appropriate color of lining that will complement the striped fabric well. I guess we are now good to go.
Crafting Process
How to make a Custom Lined Kikoy Curtains 245×135 cm – work in progress
So far so good. I was able to get all the required materials and the work is going on well.
Great to know. Looking forward to my new curtains.
Hi Bella, the curtain loks very nice but I am afraid that it is too short. I requested 245 cm long, this means 245 centimeters from curtain rod to the ground. Clould you please check and confirm?
Hi
The length is actually as per the measurements you had given me. I took the photo on a window that is high that is why it gives the impression that they are short.
Great! I am looking forward to my new curtains 😊
The Finished Unique Piece – Individually Handmade
Reference: ON000065E-428
Cost structure of this project
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Cost of material |
0
|
| Cost of labour |
95
|
| Cost of packaging |
0
|
| Local Transport to photoshoot and parcel drop-off |
0
|
| Subtotal – payout to artisan |
95
|
| Customer acquisition costs (advertising etc.) |
9.5
|
| Handling fee Urban Change Lab |
9.5
|
| Total (excluding shipping & taxes) |
114
|
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Note on shipping & taxes
The cost breakdown above shows how the value of this individual project is composed.
Shipping costs and any applicable taxes (e.g. VAT) depend on the delivery country and the specific setup and are therefore not shown as fixed amounts here.
All additional costs are communicated transparently before placing a binding order.
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