Design beyond trend
Notes from a conversation about what is lost when culture is reduced to trend and what it takes to design with intention instead
Tag: culture
What are the origins of the Asante’s famous kente cloth?
Kente is a prestigious royal cloth of Ghana’s Asante people, part of their historical and cultural heritage. But there’s a debate about where it originated: the Bonwire community or the Adanwomase community in the Ashanti Region. The Conversation Africa spoke...
Q&A: Abasiekeme Ukanireh of Éki Kéré reimagines sustainable fashion with raffia
Meet Abasiekeme Ukanireh, founder and creative director of Éki Kéré. The Nigerian brand was founded in 2020 to challenge, transform and redefine fashion stereotypes while embracing African heritage and traditions. Éki Kéré founder Abasiekeme Ukanireh Tell us about yourself and...
Threads of Africa: A Tapestry of Tradition and Modernity
African fashion is an expression and celebration of the continent’s identities, cultures and creativity. At the recent Africa Textile Talks in Cape Town, Merchants on Long, one of the event sponsors, collaborated with Twyg to create a fashion installation to...
Q&A: Bambizulu baskets embody both craft and spiritual practice
Baskets are not merely functional items; they are a celebration of culture, a form of storytelling, and a medium for social commentary. Bambizulu is a South African organisation that produces high quality woven products that are not harmful to the...
Explore tradition through the lens of 18 designers applying African fashion practices
A gallery in Nairobi was the site of a recent exhibition titled Tradition(al). It was anything but traditional. The works of 18 African fashion designers were showcased in the Kenyan capital from 4 – 12 April, forming part of a...
How pop sensation Sho Madjozi helps keep Tsonga culture alive
South African rapper Sho Madjozi is a bold and colourful presence in pop culture, as famous for her catchy lyrics as for using traditional clothing and dance in a fresh way. The musician, actress and poet is also one of very few...