Comments (0)

By sally, October 15, 2009 11:31 pm

Agbada is a loose-fitting robe worn in many different regions of Africa, especially in West Africa. These robes reach to the ankles and are either open at the sides or stitched closed along the edges. In West Nigeria a loose-fitting robe is called an agbada. An agbada has sleeves that hang loosely over the shoulders and an opening at the front. A similar garment, called a gandoura or leppi, is worn in Cameroon, and the Hausa of Nigeria call their loose-fitting robes riga. The same garment is called a dansiki in West Africa.  Most often made of cotton, agbada and other robes are typically highly patterned. These patterns may be woven into, dyed, painted, or appliquéd onto the robe. Men wear the agbada alone with trousers or as a type of coat over a shirt. As Africans have had increased contact with other cultures, traditional methods of producing cloth have declined, and many modern agbada are made from imported cloth and worn with Western pants.  Most often made of cotton, agbada and other robes are typically highly patterned. These patterns may be woven into, dyed, painted, or appliquéd onto the robe. Men wear the agbada alone with trousers or as a type of coat over a shirt.   A related garment, called the dashiki, became quite popular in the West during the rise of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s and 1970s, which saw African Americans protesting to secure their rights. Wearing a dashiki was a way of making a political statement about the value of African heritage.

Comments (0)

By sally,

A head tie is a west and southern African women’s head scarf, specifically an elaborate ornamental head covering. In the Yoruba part of Nigeria, the head tie is popularly known as “Gele”. In the Yoruba part of Nigeria, the head tie is popularly known as “Gele”. Gele is fancifully decorated, it comes in different colours  and comes in a rectangular shape. Gele is worn for special occasions like weddings, child dedication, national celeberations, family celeberations and to church. The final shape of the gele takes form as the user ties and pins the folds of the head tie together on her head. Interestingly the style’s of wearing the head tie “gele” have been given various names as they tend to impart a message from the wearer to her admirers. So a style called “CASH MADAM” tends to have the folds as high as possible to attract as many people to the wearer and to inform them that this is a lady of means who can afford the best outfit in town.

Comments (1)

By sally, October 14, 2009 10:46 pm

George fabric is made of 100% viscose, which is a naturally-derived fabric made by dissolving wood pulp and reforming it in filaments. It is soft and surprisingly comfortable for a fabric that comes from a tree.  

 This fabric is used mostly in the southeast of nigeria and anything embroided in gold is very popular. Possibly because gold exudes a celebratory, royal look; but also because in Africa gold is a symbol of a bright future, which is what everyone hopes for. George fabric has gold strands interwoven throughut the fabric, and detailed gold embroidery around the hems of skirts, sleeves, head wraps, and many times the neckline. George garments literally shimmer when you wear them because of all the interwoven gold threads. George fabric is made in India, but is exported to Africa in large quantities because it is so popular there, especially for formal events and weddings. 

Comments (0)

By sally, October 10, 2009 9:48 pm

Amsterdam International Fashion Week (AIFW) started in 2004 as an initiative to put Amsterdam on the map as a sparkling and internationally oriented destination for Fashion. Twice a year, Fashion Week forms the centre-point of the Dutch fashion world, with a full schedule of catwalk shows, trade fairs, presentations, lectures and parties.  The show programme is on invitation and for professionals only. AIFW takes place at the former Gas Factories in Amsterdam’s ‘Westergas’ area. Young and established designers show their collections on the Amsterdam catwalk. With the growing interest in ‘Dutch Design’, Amsterdam International Fashion Week attracts a growing audience of directional international brands, buyers and press. 

Answering to immense popular demand, Fashion Week DOWNTOWN consists of numerous public catwalk shows, parties, shop launches, lectures and expositions, all organized in collaboration with local museums, galleries, clubs and shops.  Focusing on Amsterdam’s reputation as an inspiring city, the AIFW programme combines commerce with creativity. Our city has a lot to offer: a growing pool of talent, an inspiring place to visit and a vibrant place to do business.

Comments (0)

By sally, October 1, 2009 10:38 pm

Kente cloth, known locally as nwentoma, is a type of silk fabric made of interwoven cloth strips and is native to the country of Ghana, where it was first developed in the 12th century. It is sometimes used to make shirts. Kente cloth” is produced by the Akan people. It is a royal and sacred cloth worn only in times of extreme importance. Kente was the cloth of kings. Over time, the use of kente became more widespread, however its importance has remained and it is held in high esteem in the Akan family and the entire country of Ghana.

In Ghana, kente is made by the Akan people (including the Asante, Bono, Fante and Nzema). Kente is also produced by Akan groups in Cote d’Ivoire, like the Baoule and Anyin, who trace their ancestry back to Ghana before the rise of the Ashanti Empire. It is the best known of all African textiles. Kente comes from the word kenten, which means “basket.” The Asante peoples refer to kente as Nwentoma or “woven cloth”. The icon of African cultural heritage around the world, Asante kente is identified by its dazzling, multicolored patterns of bright colors, geometric shapes and bold designs. Kente characterized by weft designs woven into every available block of plain weave is called adweneasa. The Asante peoples of Ghana choose kente cloths as much for their names as their colors and patterns. Although the cloths are identified primarily by the patterns found in the lengthwise (warp) threads, there is often little correlation between appearance and name. Names are derived from several sources, including proverbs, historical events, important chiefs, queen mothers, and plants.

A variety of kente patterns have been invented, each of which has a certain concept or concepts traditionally associated with it. For example, the Obaakofoo Mmu Man pattern symbolizes democratic rule; Emaa Da, novel creativity and knowledge from experience; and Sika Fre Mogya, responsibility to share monetary success with one’s relations. Similar traditional varieties of cloth are known to various tribes throughout West Africa. In the West, they are often all called ‘kente’. Legend has it that kente was first made by two friends who went hunting in a forest and found a spider making its web. The friends stood and watched the spider for two days then returned home and implemented what they had seen but, Kente has been traced back to the 12th century to the ancestors of modern Akans who use to live in the area around modern Mali.