There was a strict hierarchy of design in the Kuba Kingdom. In the capital of Nsheng, almost everything was decorated with geometric patterns—from the cups reserved for aristocrats (kolm) to the mats on which they sat. Of these nobles, only the most powerful and wealthy wore or displayed textiles with intricate and detailed patterns. Standardized patterns were reserved for lowerstatus objects or people of lesser rank. Meanwhile, outside of the capital, ordinary men and women wore plain, undecorated cloth. No person was permitted to wear Western-manufactured clothing per a royal edict that remained in place until the middle part of the 20th century.