ASO OKE: The Prestigious ‘Top Cloth’ Made In Nigeria
Aso-Oke, the Nigerian loom-woven textile transcends the runway and is sewn into the fabric of society
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Made In Ethiopia: The Habesha Kemis, It’s Details & Compliments
Africa is a complex continent. Granted there are shared similarities amongst its citizens, each country has its own blend of cultural and lingual framework. Take for example, Ethiopia. It has over 80 ethnic groups with their own cultures, customs, dialects,...
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KORHOGO: The Hand Painted Pictorial Cloth, Made In Côte d’Ivoire
Korhogo is a type of mud cloth that originates from Korhogo in Côte d’Ivoire. Made by the Senufo people, the textile is a hand-woven and hand-spun cotton fabric decorated with hand-painted designs. The captivating symbolism and imagery that’s featured on...
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ADIRE: The Blue Blood Tie-Dye Textile, Made In Nigeria
Adire is a traditional textile craft made and worn by the Yoruba people of Nigeria. Derived from the Yoruba words, adi (to tie) and re (to dye), Adire means tie and dye. The original versions were indigo-dyed and decorated with...
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AKWETE: Igbo Traditional Textile, Made In Nigeria
In August 2018, a rather spirited dancer - also known as British Prime Minister Theresa May - wore a custom-made Akwete jacket by Emmy Kasbit. The Akwete cloth is a hand-woven fabric from the Akwete area, near Aba in Abia...
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KANGA: The Talking Cloth Of The East African Coast
If you live in Tanzania or Kenya, the kanga (also known as leso) has always been a component in your life. It’s incorporated in massive life events such as birth, matrimonial and burial ceremonies. You’ve probably used it in interior...
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BARKCLOTH: A UNESCO World Heritage, Made In Uganda
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Nothing worth having comes easy.” We saw this with the Bògòlanfini (Mud Cloth) from Mali and it’s ubiquitous with the barkcloth of Uganda. Locally known as Olubugo, the ancient craft comes from the Baganda people of...
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BÒGÒLANFINI: Mali Mud Cloth
You know it. Your pinterest décor board loves it. It’s the Mali mud cloth. Aka Bògòlanfini. Aka the only time your mother will ever permit the presence of mud on your clothing. [Image: Earth Africa Curio] Made by the...
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KENTE: The Handwoven Cloth With Royalty In Its DNA, Made In Ghana
Kente is one of the most recognisable fabrics under the African textiles umbrella. Adopted as a key symbol of Afrocentric identity and Pan-Africanism in the 1960s throughout the African diaspora, it was declared Ghana’s national cloth upon attaining independence in...
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Editor’s Note – The Textile Series #tdsvoices
Ladies and Gentlemen – welcome to the end of the year. I can’t believe that we will be saying Merry Christmas and Happy New Year let alone getting used to writing 2019 very soon. Until then though, we have 2...
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LILABARE: Redefining The ‘Dream Wardrobe’ Concept
Lilabare (laila-bare) is a Made in Kenya fashion brand that wants you to rethink your wardrobe goals. Founded by Ria Ana Sejpal in 2017, the brand produces clothing and jewellery with sustainability at the heart of their modus operandi. ‘Whether...
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HOUSE OF THAIRU: In Conversation With Steve Thairu
We’re going to be honest with you. After speaking to Steve Thairu we weren’t sure how we would write this article on the House of Thairu. The 22 year old designer is a dreamer with a whimsical outlook on life....
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10 Questions With ZarAzra Founder and Fashion Designer, Azra Walji
Azra Walji is no stranger to the Kenyan fashion scene. You may know her best from winning the Heineken African Fashion Challenge in 2017, which was closely followed by a show case in Lagos Fashion And Design Week 2017. However,...
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NEW TO TDS: La Kwetu – Empowering Africa Through Design
‘Hello, I’m Michelle. The Co-founder of La Kwetu, although my background is in aerospace engineering.’ The 26-year old entrepreneur laughs as we unsuccessfully try to conceal our shock and bewilderment. We had questions. We thought this would be a simple...
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The Designers Studio connects you to the world of Fashion & Design in Kenya. Inspired to create accessibility and knowledge of the Kenyan fashion brands, TDS was created to search, tell their story and bring them closer to the consumer. TDS sell a lifestyle, a story and shift in mentality.
More about us
Storytelling through color and weaving…December 4, 2015
NEW TO TDS: La Kwetu…September 7, 2018
MANGISHI DOLL (MD): The Afro-Eclectic…March 12, 2019
E-commerce In VogueJuly 4, 2016
