Traditions to Trends: Revitalizing African Culture through Fashion

Africa, a culturally rich continent, is home to many authentic lifestyle traditions. Still to this day, numerous countries in Africa sustain their way of life by sticking to their roots, and utilizing traditional skills. South Africa is not the only one owning the runway these days, natives from across the continent are stepping out of their custom ways and embarking on an education in fashion design. Many have traveled to Europe in order to learn the western ways and have returned home to the motherland to embrace their culture. These innovative designers are taking old traditions and reclaiming them in a new fashionable way; revitalizing African culture for others to see its decadent beauty.

WEAVING

Inspired by the technique of weaving, Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, founder of AAKS’s hand-crafted handbags, utilizes the skills of Ghana women to make luxury handbags. Weaving is a main capital good for women in Africa and AAKS prides her brand in authentic craftsmanship while creating a sleek design that fuses components of raffia and leather. These gorgeous bags range in design captured through the style, size and also the seasonal color schemes. Hand-picked and dyed by family farmers and then fashioned by artisan weavers in Ghana, each one of AAKS bags are created to be a little unique. Along with designing awesome handbags, AAKS strives to enrich the lives of many natives in Ghana by providing stable work environments and also through their devotion to modern style that interprets the scared tradition of weaving.

HEADWRAPS

Another important custom of Africa, and many other countries, is to carry baskets on their head. This method of carrying allows for people to transport heavier loads than if carried by their back or shoulders. With this tradition, women wore head wraps to stabilize the baskets and maintain balance on their heads. Today, head wraps have become more of a fashion trend, especially in places where this balancing act is not utilized. The Wrap Life (TWL) and Fanm Djanm, both based in NYC, jumped on the beauty bandwagon and provide authentic handmade head wraps for ladies of all ages. Made of cotton, they are dyed with exuberant colors and traditional African and Haitian prints. It is astonishing how many different ways there are to wrap your head and create a cute style. For those of us, including myself, that are completely clueless on how this is done, TWL and Fanm Djanm help by providing tutorials for their customers on their websites. Just like AAKS, TWL dedicates some of their proceeds to go towards improving the lives of the people involved in the production of their wraps.

TEXTILES

Textiles handmade in Africa are lively and radiant with many different prints and color schemes. African tribes and natives use these prints as a form of expression and communication; differentiating tribes from one another and worn for religious ceremonies or other special occasions. Through the process of batiks, designs painted on fabric using a wax technique, and cutting edge colors, today African textile makers can create various dynamic prints. These fabrics are some of the most desirable textiles in the fashion industry and Doreen Mashika Zanzibar, one of my favorite new designers out of Africa, is utilizing them to create breath taking handbags and clothes. Her collection indulges in intricate prints and bold colors while pairing them with flashy jewels and accenting opaques. She promotes a sophisticated design that is quite obviously influenced from her heritage.

Tradition is the fundamental structure of life for people everywhere. Africa utilizes these traditions to provide tools, textiles and crafts for the community to prosper. Today, Native people are reclaiming their culture to show its hidden allure. For example, through the master craft of weaving, AAKS designs luxury handbags; and even the skill of carrying baskets on your head has led to TWL and Fanm Djanm turning head wraps into fascinating hair accessories. Other artists like Doreen Mashika were influenced by custom textiles, prints, and vibrant colors, leading to a clothing line full of opulent handbags and other apparel. All of these fashion forward lines are transitioning the world’s perception of African lifestyle by bringing culture back into clothing wear.