Documenting changing fashion in Africa post-1960
This strip of aso-oke fabric was collected by dress historian and Fashioning Africa collecting panel member Lou Taylor in the 1970s. Aso-oke translates as ‘top cloth’ or ‘high status cloth’. It is a formal cloth that is traditionally handwoven by the men of southwestern Nigeria using a narrow strip loom. It is primarily made from Read More …
This strip of aso-oke fabric was collected by dress historian and Fashioning Africa collecting panel member Lou Taylor in the 1970s. Aso-oke translates as ‘top cloth’ or ‘high status cloth’. It is a formal cloth that is traditionally handwoven by the men of southwestern Nigeria using a narrow strip loom. It is primarily made from Read More …
This fitted dress and jacket was made for the donor, Fashioning Africa collecting panel member Lou Taylor, by British dressmaker Bill Pashley in 1975. The fabric was made by Alakiti Studio in Lagos, Nigeria, and bought by the donor’s father, Lord Elwyn Jones. Taylor wore the outfit to accompany her father to a diplomatic event. Read More …
This skirt is made from adire eleko fabric. It was bought in Nigeria by Lou Taylor, a British dress historian and Fashioning Africa collecting panel member, who wore and loved it for many years. Adire refers to an indigo cloth that is produced by Yoruba women of southwestern Nigeria through a variety of resist-dye techniques. Read More …
This ‘Peacock’ dress is made from a wax print fabric decorated with brightly coloured beadwork. Eredappa Hart’s designs mix western silouettes with local print fabrics, such as wax print,which are layered with luxurious bead embellishments to create stunning three dimensional pieces. Collected as part of the Fashioning Africa project. Creator: Eredappa Hart Place: Lagos, Lagos Read More …
This jumpsuit is made from an adire inspired fabric decorated with brightly coloured beadwork. Adire is is an indigo fabric from south western Nigeria that is traditionally hand dyed using various resist techniques to create patterns. This version of the fabric is machine printed. Eredappa Hart’s designs mix western silouettes with local print fabrics, such Read More …
This fila was worn by Martin Sholagbade in his role as the Father of the Bride to a wedding. A fila is a Yoruba man’s cloth cap, worn with a matching agbada (large robe), and sokoto (trousers.Aso-oke translates as ‘top cloth’ or ‘high status cloth’. It is a formal cloth that is traditionally handwoven by Read More …
This man’s aso-oke agbada was worn by Martin Sholagbade in his role as the Father of the Bride at a wedding in 2009. It is an example of sanyan, a classic style of aso-oke, typically worn by celebrants and close family at weddings. Aso-oke translates as ‘top cloth’ or ‘high status cloth’. It is a Read More …
Description: This aso-oke gele was made in Nigeria and worn by Fashioning Africa collecting panelist, Edith Ojo, to a friend’s wedding in 2014 with a coordinating outfit made from African lace. Aso-oke, which translates as ‘top cloth’ or ‘high status cloth’ is a formal textile, traditionally woven by men. It is primarily made from cotton Read More …
This white African lace buba (blouse), iro (wrap) and pele (shawl) was made in Nigeria and worn by Fashioning Africa Collecting Panelist, Edith Ojo, to a friend’s wedding in 2014. A buba and iro is a matching outfit worn by Yoruba women. African lace (actually industrially produced embroidery originally imported from Austria) is very popular Read More …