West African prints, patterns, and colors are everywhere this season. Well, not everywhere (see Gwen Stefani)...but a handful of designers and stores are warming up to it's rich colors and vibrant patterns. Yes it's bold, and yes it's a statement, and one might be leery about wearing something that has so much cultural meaning behind it, but when something is so beautiful it's inevitable for it to hit the mainstream. A friend of mine Emeka Alams of Gold Coast Trading Company (a West African native) was the first designer to expose me to this design trend, and movement.
1) House of Rasser dress $185, 2) Lizzie Fortunato necklace on Space15Twenty , 3) YSL African mask necklace on sale now at the Outnet for $988, 4) Pillow by Carole Neven, 5) Josef Wingback chair sold at Anthropologie online $1200, 6) Baskets from American Rag
NYC label: Boxing Kitten
Dutch textile giant Vlisco has gained a reputation and relationship with providing African inspired fabrics and textiles to designers worldwide. Most notable for their huge following in Africa. Read more about the company in an Arise interview with Vlisco creative director Roger Gerrards.
Peplum skirt for Afia Summer 2012 collection. Afia is a women's clothing line sourced and sewn in Ghana. Designer Meghan Sebold is very involved in the process, traveling to Ghana, working with the seamstresses directly. Her mission is to keep the line sustainable, fair trade.
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