Threads of Influence VI: The 2025 Met Gala Host Committee – Tailored Bold
The 2025 Met Gala’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” celebrates Black dandyism—a legacy of elegance, resistance, and identity that Guzangs has traced across centuries in its Threads of Influence series. From pre-colonial African regalia to modern-day suits steeped in story, this theme lands squarely in our archive. Beyond co-chairs Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell […]
Inside Éki Kéré: The Brand Reclaiming Raffia, Masquerade, and Meaning
In an industry obsessed with velocity: new drops, new aesthetics, the endless sprint for the next big thing—Abasiekeme Ukanireh dares to move differently. She has become one of the most sought-after designers on the continent, renowned for her exquisite craftsmanship that blends vernacular materials and transforms the mundane into the extraordinary. As evident as it […]
Threads of Influence V: Met Gala Co-Chairs in Focus
The 2025 Met Gala isn’t just a red carpet — it’s a cultural reckoning. With the Costume Institute’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” this year’s gala centers the sartorial legacy of Black men across the diaspora: from Harlem dapper to Savile Row rebels, Zoot suits to modern minimalism. It’s about how Black style — rooted […]
Threads of Influence IV: The Elegance of Defiance
The art of tailoring has long been a site of Black resistance, elegance, and reinvention. From the studied poise of precolonial kings to the audacious flamboyance of the Sapeurs, tailoring has shaped how the world sees Black style — and how Black people see themselves. The 2025 Met Gala theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, affirms […]
The Power of the Collective: Artisans Behind the Runway
In Ghana’s Bonwire village, kente weavers thread vibrant narratives into silk-cotton cloth. In Ethiopia’s Amhara region, women’s cooperatives spin cotton into minimalist elegance. In South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal, Zulu beadworkers craft intricate patterns. In Mali’s Bamako region, indigo dyers create mud-dyed bogolanfini. In Kenya’s Kitui County, the Shalom Pride community weaves raffia into sustainable basket bags. […]
Earth’s Palette: African Designers Crafting Ultra-Sustainable Fashion with Natural Dyes
As Earth Day 2025 dawns under the theme “Our Power, Our Planet,” African fashion is blooming with colors drawn straight from the earth. Forget fast fashion’s toxic legacy—20% of global wastewater and 10% of CO2 emissions. An Adire dress steeped in Yoruba indigo, a Kente gown dyed with Ghanaian kola nut, or a recycled denim […]
Threads of Influence: Pre-Colonial African Menswear and the Power of Style
Before silk lapels, velvet loafers, or custom-tailored suits graced the red carpet, African men were already masters of refined, intentional dress. In pre-colonial times, menswear across the continent was more than fabric — it was storytelling. Rich with symbolism, steeped in meaning, and crafted with care, clothing served as a powerful expression of identity, community, […]
Craft West Africa at Milan Design Week 2025
A decade ago, it might’ve been unimaginable to envision African design expanding across global platforms and shaping the future of design. But today, it’s clear: Africa is no longer on the sidelines—it’s leading. Milan Design Week remains one of the most anticipated events in the global design calendar. It’s a stage for innovation, where the […]
The Enduring Power of the Drianké in Senegalese Culture and Art
In Senegal, particularly in the lively streets of Dakar, there is a woman whose presence commands respect and admiration. She is the “Drianké“. More than a symbol of beauty, she embodies wisdom, resilience, and leadership. Her influence stretches far beyond her carefully curated attire and radiant presence; she is the weaver of traditions, the keeper […]
Nene Yaya: A Legacy of Luxury with a Soul
Marième Gaye remembers the first time she saw her sister, Nene, cradle a handbag the way one might hold something precious—a delicate heirloom, a piece of history wrapped in fine leather. Even as children, Nene had a discerning eye. While others indulged in fleeting trends, she believed in permanence. “A great handbag,” she often said, […]