I have always had a deep love for bright colors and prints. I can't help it, it is in my blood. My parents were born and raised in Ghana and though I was brought up in the US my mother wore her traditional attire when attending Ghanaian events, I grew up eating both Ghanaian and American food and grew up hearing my mother speak in her local language, Twi. How could I not be influenced by the culture? Traditional African cloth is cotton, has vivid patterns and often bright colors. As a child I saw my mom have the cloth sewn into kaba and slits as seen here.
I love that I am now seeing these fabrics made into shorts, dresses, jackets, blazers, etc. And now African prints have caught the eye of non-African designers outside of the continent. Just look at Burberry's Prorsum's 2012 resort collection as one example. I have had several dresses and skirts made by seamstresses and tailors during my visits to Ghana. I've also purchased African cloth garments off at the rack at places like Kiki Clothing. However, for those not traveling to the continent any time soon and not willing to pay Burberry dollars I've found accessible African cloth summer pieces at friendlier price points.
I love that I am now seeing these fabrics made into shorts, dresses, jackets, blazers, etc. And now African prints have caught the eye of non-African designers outside of the continent. Just look at Burberry's Prorsum's 2012 resort collection as one example. I have had several dresses and skirts made by seamstresses and tailors during my visits to Ghana. I've also purchased African cloth garments off at the rack at places like Kiki Clothing. However, for those not traveling to the continent any time soon and not willing to pay Burberry dollars I've found accessible African cloth summer pieces at friendlier price points.
Interested? Find out where to purchase after the jump.
