R6129/11 Kaftan; Boubou

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Orange and white tie dye kaftan

Women’s Boubou (Kaftan) (Museum Accession Number R6129/11)

This woman’s boubou gown was made by Jean Kablan, a popular designer based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in the 1970s. It forms part of a capsule collection of outfits and accessories that African American collector and fashion enthusiast Saundra Lang aquired on various trips to West Africa, which the museum collected as part of the Fashioning Africa Project. 

Creator: Jean Kablan

Place: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Date: 1974

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a woman wearing a long orange tie dye kaftan

Saundra recalls: ‘I was given this boubou by a friend as a welcoming gift in 1974, my second trip to Abidjan. It was customery to give visitors gifts. I was taken to the designer’s shop and fitted for the boubou… I was so delighted to receive this generous gift.’

Saundra Lang at her home in Los Angeles.

See more of Saundra Lang’s capsule collection

women's flared trousers in an indigo resist dyed fabric
R6129/10 Trousers
These trousers belonged to Saundra Lang, an African American fashion enthusiast who spent time in West Africa from the 1970s Read more
women's white boubou gown and skirt, with colourful embroidery at the collar
R6129/12/1 Boubou and Skirt
This woman's boubou style top and skirt outfit belonged to Saundra Lang, an African American collector and fashion enthusiast. Saundra Read more
Blue and yellow dress with ruffled shoulders and peplum waist in a floral wax print fabric
R6129/13 Wax Print Dress
This wax print dress is actually a matching top and skirt. The outfit was made for African American collector Saundra Read more