Documenting changing fashion in Africa post-1960
This women’s long shirt was created by Nigerian designer and textile artist Nike Davies-Okundaye. The cloth was hand-woven in 1910 by Mrs Ibitola, Nike’s great grandmother. Mrs Ibitola lived in Ede, Osun State and was the head weaver in the village before her death at the age of 86. The patches sewn onto the garment Read More …
This cloth is an example of an aso-oke style called eleya-sanyan, with an inlaid striped design in two metallic blue shades. Sanyan is a classic style of aso-oke which is woven from from anaphe wild silk, while ‘elaye’ refers to the open work holes in the cloth that form the structural decoration along with the Read More …
This men’s gbariye short tunic is made from aso-oke cloth. Aso-oke is narrow strip cloth woven by Yoruba men, and this type of cloth and tunic has a long and enduring history. It is similar in style and shape to garments like the batakari tunic worn in Ghana. The aso-oke is a classic design that Read More …
This strip of aso-oke fabric was collected by Fashioning Africa collecting panel member Edith Ojo in 2018 to represent contemporary aso-oke styles. Aso-oke, which translates as ‘top cloth’ or ‘high status cloth’ is a formal textile, traditionally woven by men. Its is primarily made from cotton or silk, woven in long narrow strips which are Read More …
This strip of aso-oke fabric was collected by Fashioning Africa collecting panel member Edith Ojo in 2018 to represent contemporary aso-oke styles. Aso-oke, which translates as ‘top cloth’ or ‘high status cloth’ is a formal textile, traditionally woven by men. Its is primarily made from cotton or silk, woven in long narrow strips which are Read More …
This strip of aso-oke fabric was collected by Fashioning Africa collecting panel member Edith Ojo in 2018 to represent contemporary aso-oke styles. Aso-oke, which translates as ‘top cloth’ or ‘high status cloth’ is a formal textile, traditionally woven by men. Its is primarily made from cotton or silk, woven in long narrow strips which are Read More …
This strip of aso-oke fabric was collected by Fashioning Africa collecting panel member Edith Ojo in 2018 to represent contemporary aso-oke styles. Aso-oke, which translates as ‘top cloth’ or ‘high status cloth’ is a formal textile, traditionally woven by men. Its is primarily made from cotton or silk, woven in long narrow strips which are Read More …
This strip of aso-oke fabric was collected by Fashioning Africa collecting panel member Edith Ojo in 2018 to represent contemporary aso-oke styles. Aso-oke, which translates as ‘top cloth’ or ‘high status cloth’ is a formal textile, traditionally woven by men. Its is primarily made from cotton or silk, woven in long narrow strips which are Read More …
This gele forms part of an occassion or bridalwear woman’s outfit. It is made of hand woven aso-oke fabric, tailored and embellished with crystals. It was designed and made by Abiola Aso-oke, a generational aso-oke fashion business in Lagos. It took eight weeks to produce and was woven on a vertical loom by a female Read More …
This occasion or bridal wear woman’s outfit consists of a buba (blouse), iro (wrap skirt), pele (shawl) and matching gele (headwrap). It is made of hand woven aso-oke fabric, tailored and embellished with crystals. It was designed and made by Abiola Aso-oke, a generational aso-oke fashion business in Lagos. It took eight weeks to produce Read More …