Designer Profile: Lafalaise Dion

Known as the “Queen of Cowries,” Ivorian designer Lafalaise Dion has built a brand rooted in African spirituality and cultural reclamation. Her elaborate handmade crowns, jewelry, and garments transform cowrie shells into powerful symbols of heritage and feminine energy, blending art and adornment. Dion champions sustainability through zero-waste techniques and crafts each piece by hand in Côte d’Ivoire. Her work gained global recognition when featured in Beyoncé’s Black Is King and later acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum for its Africa Fashion exhibition. With a philosophy of reclaiming tradition and designing with intention, Lafalaise Dion’s pieces are both cultural archives and spiritual statements.

Côte d’Ivoire