Seriously, we know we should be celebrating one more designer/store/global brands decision to use the ankara fabric to create a collection “that will promote and provide for our cottage industries or impoverished communities” but we are not.
African designers (whatever the term means to you), it is time for us to rise up and take a stand to decide on what fashion means to us as Africans. Players in the international fashion industry have found a way to make it hip, cool and urban to work with African inspired prints like ankara, kangas, kente, bantu wax etc by creating an ethical story around each piece which ensures that it goes beyond the actual garment to what each actually stands for – feeding a family for a whole month, providing water for a whole community, creating job opportunities etc etc. for our Continent. Why cant we do the same?
Had a lengthy conversation with Ituen Basi, a great mind in the industry and a woman who is very passionate about the future and growth of the industry especially the Nigerian Fashion Industry and she summed it perfectly – We have to work together to define what fashion means to us and reinterpret this into stories that transcends seasons, trends and geographical boundaries – maybe therein lies the future for us?
But for now, we have to endure one more collection from one more designer who has had enough interaction with the culture and lifestyle of Africa that can be interpreted and crafted into a collection with a story to tell – who made it, how it was made, what they went through to make it and how it is enriching and supporting lives.
Sounds familiar anyone? I bet this is the story of almost every designer within the Continent who struggles despite the challenges faced in the environment to design and produce collections year in year out.
What is your story?
“The Near Far Collection combines beautiful design with traditional Sierra Leonean prints to create a stunning collection of wearable yet highly original pieces”. www.marieclaire.co.uk www.nearfar.co.uk
