The Basotho Blanket is unique to the Kingdom of Lesotho and dates back over a century. In those days, the Basotho’s clothing was made of garments made out of animal skin. As the began to interact with Europeans and mainly missionaries, they were slowly forced to abondon their traditional clothing and this they did by adopting more western dress. Included here were blankets to replace some of the clothing made out of animal skins. The first blankets to be found were produced soon after the Basotho nation was founded in the 1830s. By 1835, the Basotholand saw the first traders coming to their land, and supplying crude imitations of what we see today. In 1876 Donald Fraser came to Lesotho from the spinning and weaving area of England and was not happy to find the shoddy blankets supplied to the Basotho. He and King Moshoeshoe discussed the problem and introduced a improved version of the blanket but one that still resembled the skin kaross originally worn by the Basotho.

Today, the Basotho wear the blanket for all most if not all occasions, in all kinds of weather in Lesotho, especilly given that Lesotho experiences climatic extremes. It has been said by a Mosotho that you should always carry a blanket and a pocketknife with you for then "You can sleep and you can eat.

 

Although most blankets today are conceived as ‘traditional’, they have stayed the same throghout most of the 20th century. It is always in use whether in the cities and towns or out in the rural mountains,and for both formal and informal occassions. It is worn by children, parents and grandparents alike. The blanket is worn for all occassions, and in the most humble surroundings as well as in the most important places. Most Basotho keep a wardrobe of blankets, worn for utility or functional purposes, or their wearing depends on the nature of the occasion.