AFRICAN COUTURE: PERFECT BLEND OF GRAPHICS AND FABRIC

FASHION

By Ranibelle Sato*

Have you ever attended an African engagement ceremony, wedding, birthday party or even funeral? If you have, then you have certainly come across bold, beautiful and elegant African couture. The beautiful combination of bright colours and the big, repeating graphics are so authentic. The patterns are so gorgeous and different from any other folklore fabric.

The African fabric and couture is no longer restricted to particular patterns and designs or to Africans but a source of inspiration to top world designers and influences their collections. The global fashion industry’s interest in African designs is growing. Top designers like Duro Oluwu and Ozwald Boateng have established their labels internationally.

Perfect African Wedding Fabric

African fashion designers are on the rise – in Africa and across the world. Cape Town, South Africa, Lagos, Nairobi and Dakar are the continent’s popular fashion hubs.

Consultancy Africa Intelligence, a Pretoria-based research firm, recorded 16 major fashion shows in Africa in 2011, three of which were staged in South Africa and two in Nigeria. The Swahili Fashion Week in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania is an annual highlight for designers from East and Central Africa. Other international fashion events which serve African-based designers as a platform to showcase their work are held in Angola, Mozambique and Ghana. New trends and labels are promoted on websites, in fashion magazines like the Nigeria-based Arise Magazine, and by TV satellite programmes with Africa-wide reach such as DStv from South Africa.

“Fashion is an excellent way to promote the creativity of Africa and to shape a different image of the continent that is not reduced to poverty and animals but includes all diverse aspects of our life,” said Auma Obama, the Kenyan-based sister of the US president .She was official patron of the Africa Fashion Day in Berlin, Germany.

African Designs

The success of African designers results from international markets’ growing interest as well as from the growing self-confidence of Africa’s creative sector. African couture has a lasting mark on western culture.  There is the rise of African designers using African fabrics and textiles with an infusion of western cultural elements. Worldwide, designers and fashion houses such as Chanel, Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B., Diane von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, Oscar De La Renta, and Yves Saint Laurent have creations inspired by African couture.

Sure, some of us may know the work of these illustrious fashion designers, but not aware of the rising African designers today? You should! Here are a few African designers you need to know:

• Cameroonian designers, Maryanne Mokoko and Stephanie T. Mouapi, the creative duo of Cote Minou based in the Washington, DC area
• Liberian-born fashion designer, Korto Momolu, who has appeared as a contestant on Project Runway
• Sheila Denanyoh, Ghanaian designer based in Ohio, who founded Ill-la-la Designs in 2008
• Chicago-based Congolese designer, Kahindo Matee, who  is founder of Modahnik
• Sierra Leonian fashion designer, Adama Kargbo
• Ghanaian designers, SIKA and Mimi Plange, who are the force of Boudoir D’huitres
• Nigerian designers, Deola Sagoe and Lola Faturoti
• Ugandan designer, Gloria Wavamunno
• Cameroonian designers, Kibonen Fi and Anrette, founders of Kirette Couture
• South African designer, Stoned Cherry
• Togolese designer, Yaovi Marius Ahiale of  Maurizio Fashions
• Ghanaian swimsuit designer, Aya Morrison



Textile and Colour

• And South African designer, David Tlale, among many others.

ART AND FASHION

Accessory designers of African inspired fashion are increasing as well. Fatima Samad, founder of Design by U creates African motif jewellery, while Clutch Culture creates tailored handbags using African fabric.

Fashion journalist Eunice Poku says “Now, when I think of African couture, I definitely think of custom-made clothing for men and women. I think of lace and Dutch wax prints, as well as African fabrics and textiles. I also think of colours, patterns and textures.  I believe African couture is not just clothing as seen on runways or pictures in fashion magazines, but also visual statements that are part-art and part-fashion.

African couture is not simply clothing, but an expression of your heritage, the celebration of milestones in life, a celebration of life in general, and a way of showcasing individuality.

*Guest Writer: Youth Activist