Out of Africa

This season's African prints have an authentic and Tribal abstracts  appeal. Geometric elements complemented with bold colours. African inspired fashion came along with tribal trend and infiltrated to mainstream fashion around 2010 and has great responses on the runway around the world. Many non-African designers also have started to incorporate African elements into their work by the use of African wax prints, Ankara.

Ankara is brightly coloured with symbolic designs made of 100% cotton. The fabric may be of Dutch origins and later on taken by the Turks, as it’s now known as Ankara but it is clearly and African fabric. Originally the wax resist dyed fabrics was worn as every day casual outfits but now customised to suit the designs of the person wearing it.  More info here. 

Marc Jacobs, Eley Kishimoto, Gwen Stefani, Dries van Noten and Kenzo are a few that have also caught the African prints fever. They have also included in the collection of jewellery, accessories and bags out of this fabric. Clothing line like Suno, Loud and Boxing Kitten are doing a great job promoting African print with their works. 

Marni for H&M

BoxingKitten Resort 2010

ASOS AFRICA collection

Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 2012

Gallery of Poems by Lanre Da Silva-Ajayi

L'Officiel February 2012 Belleville Bamako

Stella Jean Spring/Summer 2012

Ohema Ohene