F E AT U R E S
For the most part, designers all over the
continent seem to have remembered
traditional fabrics only after the West
acknowledged our existence. Over the
past few years, global catwalks have not
been complete without a burst of African
print from Balenciaga, Moschino to the
late Oscar de la Renta.
Nigerian born, London-based designer
Duro Olowu’s distinctive pieces cannot
be divorced from his heritage. Although
his art can be described as multi-cultural,
his “Afro-chic” aesthetic borrows stimuli
from the various shapes and colours
of the Mother Land. Moreover, Boxing
Kitten, made popular by style goddess
Solange Knowles, makes use of Ankara
fabric from western Africa. The label’s
designer, Maya Lake, cites her inspiration
as the inherently African attire worn by the
African-American Black Power movement
of the 1970s.
Although these designers separate
themselves from purely African musings,
the continent can never be completely
dissociated from their success. And with
our fabrics and designs making waves
intercontinentally, we’re left with the
question – Is there space for African
designers on this ship or is the market
already flooded?
IMBO/ ISSUE 32/ '14
114