tbs              TDC2(5622 )P3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Draft  
Tanzania Standard  
Textiles  – Kikoi S pecification s 
(Second edition)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS  
 
1 
 0. FOREWORD  
0.1 Kikoi is a plain weave, multipurpose unisex cloth. It is generally m ade from 100% cotton yarn , but due 
to fashion and aesthetics, yarns of other fibres and blends are also being used in its manufacture. This 
Draft Tanzania Standard (2nd edition ) takes into consi deration all these factors and specifies only the 
minimum requirements for Kikoi.  
0.2 In view of the need to help producers in manufacturing of a defined quality , it has been felt  compulsory  
to prepare a Draft Tanzania S tandard . Moreover, due to technological advancement the standard has 
been slight ly improved  to bring its requirements in alignment with the current science, technology, practice 
and expertise.  
 
0.3 In developing this Draft Tanzania Standard impro vement has  been made in Clause 3 whe re the term 
‘‘plain weave’’ have been added a nd in Clause 4 ‘‘pH value’’ has  been further added as per requirements 
for Kikoi  
0.4 In the preparation of this Draft Tanzania Standa rd the  data was collected from local textile industries 
and expertise from the textile industry.  
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition which was developed in year  – 2003  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
2 
 Tanzania Bureau o f Standards  
Draft Tanzania Standard          TDC2  (5622 )P3 
Textiles – Kikoi S pecification s 
 
1. SCOPE  
This Draft  Tanzania Standard 2nd edition specifies the requirements for Kikoi . 
2. NORMATIVE REFERENCES  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies:  
TZS 4:  Rounding off numerical values  
TZS 20:  Textiles – Woven fabrics – Determination of number of threads per centimeter  
TZS 21:  Textiles – Woven or knitted fabr ics – Determination of mass per unit length and per unit 
area 
TZS 22:  Textiles – Method for determination of breaking load and extension of strips of woven or 
knitted fabrics.  
TZS 23:  Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Colour fastness to artificial light (Xenon arc).  
TZS 24:  Textiles – Method of determination of colour fastness of textile materials to washing. Test 
4: Severe washing . 
TZS 27: Textiles – Determination of dimensional change of fabric – cold water immersion .  
TZS 44:  Textile s – Method for determination of length and width of woven or knitted fabrics.  
TZS 137:  Textiles – Determination of dimensional changes of woven and knitted fabrics and 
garments – Machine method . 
TZS 138:  Textiles – Test for colour fastness – colour fastness to rubbin g  
TZS 167: Textiles – Tests for colour Fastness – Colour fastness to washing – Test 3 
TZS 280:  Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – colour fastness to perspiration . 
TZS 327:  Textiles  – Binary fibre mixtures – quantitative chemical analysis.  
TZS 529:  Textiles – Test for colour fastness – colour fastness to dry – cleaning  
 
 
  
3 
 3. TERM S AND DEFINITIONS  
For the purpose of this Draft Tanzania Standard the following  terms and  definitions shall apply.  
3.1 Kikoi  
rectangular plain weav e cloth approximately 170cm  by 102cm , characterized by fringes at both ends and 
woven – vertical or horizontal  stripes of coloured yarns.  
 NOTE  
 It could be plain dyed, bleached or stripped with coloured yarn at the selvedges or main body.  
3.2 Fringe  
edge or border of loose threads  on top and bottom of kikoi.  
  NOTE  
These fringes are produced by the constituent threads. The threads forming the fringes are 
sometimes bunched or knotted together to increase the decorative effect.  
3.3 Plain weave  
fabric formed by interlacing odd warp threads (vertical) with even weft threads (horizontal).  
Note: A plain weave does not neces sarily result in a plain surface effect i.e. yarns of the same size 
(count or design effect)  
4. REQUIREMENTS  
4.1 Fabric fibre composition and proportion  
The fabric fibre composition and proportion shall be as declared subject to a tolerance of ±5%. This shall 
be determined  in accordance with TZS 327:  (see clause 2)  
4.2 Dimensions  
4.2.1 Length (excluding fringes)  
The minimum length of a Kikoi excluding the fringes sha ll be 160cm. This shall be determine d in 
accordance with TZS 44:  (see clause 2).  
4.2.2 Width  
The minimum width of a Kikoi shall be 102cm. This shall be determined  in accordance with TZS 44: (see 
clause 2)  
4.2.3 Fringe length  
The minimum length of fringe at either end of a Kikoi shall be 5cm.  
4.3 Mass  
The mass per metre squared of a Kikoi shall be as specified in table 1. This shall be determined in 
accordance with TZS 21 : (see clause 2).   
4 
 4.4 Breaking force  
The minimum breaking force of a Kikoi shall be as specified in T able 1. This shall be determined  in 
accordance with TZS 22:  (see clause 2).  
4.5 Dimensional changes  
4.5.1 Washing  
The dimensional changes after five washings shall not exceed -5% lengthwise an d -3% widthwise. This 
shall be determined in accordance with TZS 137:  (see clause 2) . 
4.5.2 Dry-cleaning  
The dimensional changes after three dry -cleanings shall not exceed -2% lengthwise and -1% widthwise. 
This shall be determined  in accordance with TZS 529:  (see clause 2).  
4.6 Colour fastness  
The colour fastness of a Kikoi fabric shall be as specified in Table 2.  
4.7 pH value  
The pH value of a Kikoi shall range  from 6.0 to 8.5  
Table 1 – Kikoi fabric requirements  
 
Parameters  Requirements  Test methods  
Fibre composition  100%  cotton  
 Polyester/cotton 
blend  
 100% wool  
 100% 
acrylic  TZS 327:  
Mass , g/m2 120 100 150 150 TZS 21:  
Breaking force 
N, min 
(20cm x 5cm ) warp  400 500 350 420  
TZS 22: 
weft 280 350 250 250 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
5 
 Table 2  – Colour fastness requirements  
 
Colour fastness to:  Numerical rating, min  
Test methods  Colour change  Staining  
Light  
Dry-cleaning  
Washing  
Rubbing:  
Dry  
Wet 
Perspiration   5 
4 or better  
4 or better  
 
4 or better  
3 or better  
4 or better  - 
4 
4 
 
4 
4 
4 TZS 23:  
TZS 529:  
TZS 24:  
 
TZS 138:  
TZS 280:  
 
 
Table 3  – Other requirements of Kikoi  
 
 
Characteristics   
Requirements  Method of test  
(see clause 2)  
 
pH value   
6.0 to 8.5   
TZS 26:  
Shrinkag e or elongation, percent 
(%), max  
±5  
TZS 137:  
 
Length, cm, min.  
160cm  ± 2%   
TZS 44:  
 
Width, cm, min.  
102cm  ± 2%   
TZS 44:  
 
Length of fringe   
5cm  
TZS 44:  
 
 
Dye properties   
None carcinogenic  
None allergenic   
 
TZS 2007 -2: 
 
5. PACKING  
5.1 Each piece or pair of K ikoi shall be neatly and securely  wrapped in polythene wrappers to prevent 
soiling and damage.  
5.2 The neatly and securely  wrapped pieces shall be further packed in cartons or boxes.  
 
 
  
6 
 6. MARKING  
6.1 Each piece of pair of Kikoi shall have a label securely attached bearing the following information:  
a) manufacturer’s name, address and trade mark;  
b) fabric fibre composition and proportion;  
c) the cloth name ‘Kikoi’;  
d) dimensions in cm;  
e) care instructions and  
f) country of origin.  
6.2 Each bulk container shall have a label firmly  attached, bearing the fo llowing information:  
a) manufacturer’s name address and trade mark;  
b) the cloth name ‘Kikoi’;  
c) number of pieces and  
d) country of origin.  
7. SAMPLING  
 
7.1 Lot  
The quantity of the same type and quality delivered to one buyer against one dispatch note shall 
constitute a lot.  
7.2 The conformity of the lot to the requirements of this Draft Tanzania Standard shall be determined on 
the basis of tests carried out on the samples selected from the lot.  
7.3 Unless otherwise agreed upon between the buyer and the manuf acturer, the number of pieces to be 
selected at random from a l ot shall be in accordance with T able 3. 
Table 3  – Sampling size and permissible number of non -conforming pieces  
Number of pieces  
in the lot  Sample size (No. of 
pieces to be 
selected)  Permissible no. Non -
conforming pieces  Sub-sample size (No. 
of pieces to be 
selected)  
Up   to 25  
26   to 50  
51   to 150  
151 to 300  
301 to 500  
501 to  1000  
1000 and above  3 
5 
8 
13 
20 
32 
50 0 
0 
0 
1 
1 
2 
3 2 
2 
3 
3 
5 
5 
8