Women’s outfit (Museum Accession Number R6129/15)
This two piece outfit is made from white cotton with a hand-dyed indigo tie-dyed design. It was made by designer Ainé Pathé Ouédraogo for his label Pathé’O. Born in Burkina Faso, Ouédraogo went on to set up his popular label in Abidjan in the 1970s. He subsequently became prominent in the 1990s when he began dressing Nelson Mandela. In addition he recently collaborated with Dior on their 2020 Cruise collection, designing a shirt in tribute to Mandela. This outfit forms part of a collection of similarly stylish West African fashion acquired by African American fashion enthusiast Saundra Lang on her many visits to the region. The museum acquired a capsule collection of Saundra’s outfits as part of the Fashioning Africa Project.
Creator: Pathé’O
Place: Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa, Africa
Date: 1980s
Saundra said of this outfit: ‘I purchased this pants and top from [Pathé’O’s] atelier in the Treihville neighborhood of Abidjan. I’m not sure if it was a man’s or women’s outfit or both.’
Saundra Lang at her home in Los Angeles, modelling her indigo Pathé’O trouser suit
See more of Saundra Lang’s capsule collection
