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Abstract
African prints which were introduced into the West African market in the 19th Century by the European missionaries and traders were highly patronized by Ghanaians during the 20th Century. These early African prints were commonly referred to as classical prints. Over the years, design and colour preferences changed and textile producers adapted more creative ways in designing to satisfy the taste and demand of textile consumers. This gave rise to contemporary designs that were quickly embraced by the public especially the youth. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of patronage of classical and contemporary prints, with the view of helping the textile industries satisfy the taste of wider consumers. Interviews were conducted to determine why people preferred either classical or contemporary prints. The findings revealed that majority of consumers of African prints in Ghana still patronise the classical prints whiles the contemporary prints are highly patronised by the youth. The study recommends that textile designers should consider integration of symbolism and aesthetics in textile designing to increase the patronage of African prints produced in Ghana.