kaross avaMen and women in Botswana traditionally dress in clothes made from animal skins because they’re durable, easy to get (Tswana men are great hunters) and work with, and it is the way their ancestors dressed. One of the most interesting Tswana folk garments is a blanket called “kaross”. It is used by the local men. And this traditional African blanket would probably cause animal defenders to have a stroke – it is created of rows and rows of animal skins sewn together.

A kaross is a blanket worn by Tswana men as a cloak. They wrap themselves in this simple but handy garment. A kaross is made from animal skins sewn together (up to 20-50 or even more skins) – for example, jackal, leopard, or civet cat skins. Their fur looks very beautiful, so these animals are being hunted for their skin. And although jackals and wild cats are not going extinct and there is still a large population of these animals, a lot of people from around the planet would consider it cruel to make clothes of dozens of these skins. But this is a centuries-old if not millennia-old tradition for bushmen in Botswana to wear kaross blankets. It’s a part of their legacy.

 

Traditional kaross blanket of Tswana men

 

Still, times change, textiles are getting more and more available, and karosses made from natural animal skins are often being replaced by woven blankets or at least blankets made from cowhide.

Today, Tswana kaross blankets are used as souvenirs for tourists and as bedding, as well as clothing. Of course, such blankets aren’t typically created from leopard or wild cat skins but from cheaper alternatives.

Original Tswana kaross looks like a status and statement garment. It is beautiful and warm, and the technique of making kaross blankets is passed down many generations. But still, a dilemma exists whether Tswana people should stop killing dozens of animals to make just one traditional blanket.

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