Coincidently,
staying on the topic of all things fashionable coming out of South Africa. By
means of a 419 blog I posted which was liked and reposted by someone who loves of Ghana, I happened
to tumble upon this hat designed by Laduma Ngxokolo, a dope South African textile designer. Laduma is embracing
traditional African patterns, inspired by the Xhosa culture and transcribing them onto knit ware,
creating his own contemporary culturally infused look. His patterns are
vibrant with color and dripping with an ethic flare and his process has him
winning all sorts of awards and design competitions.
It
seems like African inspired patterns is slowly but surely being embrace by the
fashionable mainstream and westernized worlds. Already we’ve seen an influx of
mud cloth accessories and garments in department stores such as Urbran
Outfitters. Not to mention, musician
such Jay-Z and Pusha T, Yasin Bey (Mos Def) embracing Afrocentric accra inspired high end street
ware brand like Ale et Ange, pronounced ah-LAY
ay ahnj, founded by
some African Americans (First generation Africans in America). Hat below.
Nonetheless,
the continent of Africa and its designers, are making room for themselves in
the fashion world, as they rightfully should. Traditional African attire has
always been colorful, vibrant and unique. I have been so lucky to be born within
a rich Nigerian culture, allowing me to be apart of textiles and patterns first
hand. Now all I am waiting for is full western embrace, more contemporary infusion
and longevity. I do not want this to be just the flavor of the month or season.
Check out this video of Laduma Ngxokolo speaking, at last years Design Indaba 2011. You can also check out his website.
I just appreciate how we can inspired and be inspired any and everything. Let our african history, roots, and culture, style be preserved and modernized to suit our fashionable taste.
On another tip, I do wonder, strictly, as a freelance marketer, master in business holder, future retail apparel entrepreneur; are these knit selling well in South Africa. What other markets is he in. I'm sweating just viewing his knit ware lines.
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