Tag: African wear

African Fashion has always been sustainable

Posted on by Juliet Ajaab

In recent years, the global fashion industry has undergone a significant shift towards sustainability. Many consumers and brands alike are recognising the importance of eco-conscious practices. Amidst this movement, African fashion stands out as a beacon of sustainability, and has been doing so for decades! Here are four compelling reasons why African fashion is naturally sustainable.

Locally Sourced Materials


African fashion embraces the use of locally sourced materials, supporting local economies and reducing carbon footprints. From organic cotton and handwoven textiles to natural dyes derived from indigenous plants, African designers prioritise materials that are abundant and accessible within their communities. Fabrics like Kente, Fugu, Oso Oke have been woven on the continent for centuries and continue to stay in active use. By sourcing locally, African fashion minimises the environmental impact associated with long-distance transportation and promotes sustainable livelihoods for local artisans and sellers. Even though a lot of wax print fabric used in African fashion is produced in Europe and Asia, most designers prefer to source these materials from local merchants which helps the industry to grow.

Artisanal Craftsmanship


At the heart of African fashion lies a tradition of artisanal craftsmanship passed down through generations. Skilled artisans employ age-old techniques such as hand weaving, hand-dyeing, and beadwork to create intricately crafted garments and accessories. This emphasis on artisanal production not only preserves cultural heritage but also promotes sustainable practices. By prioritising craftsmanship over mass production, African fashion celebrates slow fashion principles, fostering a deeper connection between consumers and the clothing they wear while reducing waste and promoting longevity.

Popular use of sustainable fabrics:


African fashion designers have long embraced cotton fabric as a staple material in their creations. This preference contributes greatly to the industry’s inherent sustainability. Cotton, being a natural fibre, is biodegradable and renewable, aligning perfectly with eco-conscious practices. By incorporating cotton into their designs, through wax print fabrics African fashion designers not only celebrate the continent’s rich heritage but also champion sustainable fashion by prioritising materials that are both environmentally friendly and socially responsible.

Up-cycling and Repurposing


African fashion embraces the ethos of up-cycling and repurposing, giving new life to discarded materials and vintage fabrics. Designers creatively transform waste materials such as plastic bags, old garments, and reclaimed textiles into unique and stylish pieces, reducing landfill waste and minimising the demand for new resources. This innovative approach to design not only reduces environmental impact but also celebrates creativity and resourcefulness, challenging traditional notions of beauty and luxury.

African fashion’s commitment to sustainability is woven into its very fabric, reflecting a deep reverence for nature, community, and tradition. By embracing locally sourced materials, artisanal craftsmanship, upcycling and repurposing, and cultural preservation, African fashion sets a powerful example for the global industry, proving that style and sustainability can coexist harmoniously.

Ghana Celebrity Fashion At The 2023 VGMA Event

Posted on by Juliet Ajaab

Fashion has always been an integral part of the entertainment industry, with celebrities setting trends and influencing fashion choices for their fans. From red carpet events to everyday street style, celebrities have the power to shape fashion trends and influence the industry. The Vodafone Ghana Music Awards popularly known as the VGMA is one of the country’s biggest displays of fashion.

When it comes to red carpet events, celebrities often choose designer outfits that make a statement. They choose outfits that are unique, eye-catching, and reflect their personal style. Some celebrities opt for traditional and cultural outfits, while others go for more modern and contemporary designs.

The VGMA event is a major music awards event held annually in Ghana. It also sees celebrities from the music industry showcasing their fashion sense. Ghanaian fashion is known for its vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and traditional elements. Celebrities often incorporate these elements into their outfits, making for a truly unique and diverse fashion scene.

When it comes to celebrity fashion trends, it’s important to note that they are constantly changing. What was popular yesterday may not be popular today, and what is popular today may not be popular tomorrow. This year’s VGMA fashion was a mixture of breathtaking, bizarre and impressive. Over the years we are seeing more celebrities wear clothes from local designers and this really makes us happy. With the rise of social media and influencer culture, celebrities now have a greater impact on fashion trends than ever before. So the push for Ghanaian designers is a push in the right direction. 

Classy look

Some Ghanaian celebrities love to look effortlessly classy and we saw a number of these looks on the red carpet. Our favourite of them all was Black Sheriff’s outfit for the night. It worked perfectly well for his frame and also his personality. The classy look is not as easy as it seems. This look often tries not to go over the top but must also look good enough for such an occasion. Some of the easiest ways to achieve this look is by first choosing muted and few colours. Black is top on that list. Maybe that’s why Black Sheriff wins this one, because it’s in his name. EL looked stunning as well. Interestingly enough he also wore a classic suit.

Avant-garde look

Avant-garde looks for events like the VGMAs are very welcome but they have to be fashionable. It needs to be both bizarre and tasteful, in a weird kind of way. This year’s Music Awards saw a fair number of Avant-garde looks. Our favourite for the night was Abiana and surprisingly Chiief One did a good job with his denim outfit. The honest truth is that avant-garde is not for everyone.

Ghana vibes look

Sometimes It’s hard to tell where the celebrities get their clothes from. For many years artists have been wearing foreign brands but some also make it a point to patronize Ghanaian fashion brands and also make it as obvious as possible. The 2023 VGMAs saw a decent number of local brands being mentioned on the red carpet and even fabric like kente was beautifully represented. Felicia Osei’s stunning kente gown stood out but our favourite was Anita Akuffo’s dress. It was truly flawless.

Fashion trends are an ever-evolving aspect of the entertainment industry. The clothes that celebrities wear at events such as the VGMA can often make headlines and spark conversations. Whether they choose traditional or contemporary designs, celebrities have the power to influence fashion trends and shape the industry. Who was your best dressed celebrity on the VGMA red carpet?

Differences between kente and batakari fugu fabric

Posted on by Juliet Ajaab

 A lot of times when people see our handwoven smock fabric they call it kente. This needs to stop NOW! These are two very different fabrics and in this article, I will tell you why. First of all, let me acknowledge the people who work hard to make these beautiful pieces of art we call fabric. I’ve seen both smock fabric and kente being made and it’s such an amazing thing to behold. 

When I was in university I had the privilege to do my final year project work at the place kente began and its biggest production location yet, Bonwire in the Ashante Region. Kente is a handwoven fabric which is often made up of many vibrant colours and made with a loom. The weavers make beautiful patterns and shapes. The weaving is often done in strips and then sewed together to get cloths of different sizes. Kente fabric is mostly worn wrapped around the body or sewn into beautiful garments. In modern times kente is even used to make accessories like bags and shoes as well as decorations. These days the patterns and colours have evolved to the extent that some cloths even have metallic and shimmery looks to them. 

https://www.shopafrothreads.com/shop/p/authentic-handwoven-kente-cloth-ghana

Kente is mostly worn to ceremonial events. These cloths are more expensive than most fabrics on the market because they are handmade and very unique. Kente prints and patterns have been replicated on cotton, silk, satin and other fabrics. Many people frown on this because they believe the essence of kente is being taken away. A lot of these kente replicas are made by Chinese companies which makes the case even worse. Kente fabric has appeared on several international runways by big high fashion brands.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-56484264

Smock or batakari fabric is a handwoven fabric mostly from Northern Ghana. This fabric is made carefully in big looms which are often controlled by women. The main design is long stripes in various colours but often not many colours per cloth. The stripes often vary in size making the design a bit more conservative but unique as well. Smock fabric is also woven in strips and then handsewn together. 

The name batakari means a smock which is what most of these fabrics are used for. Smocks from northern Ghana come in many forms. They are often hand or machine sewn and lined nicely. Ex-President of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings and John Mahama were two of the people who made smocks very popular among men in Ghana. Samira Bawumia, Ghana’s second lady also brought out the beauty of smock fabric with her high-end tailored dresses.

This smock fabric has been used to make so many things besides smocks and clothes. These days you can find bags, shoes and other fashion accessories made with batakari fabric. As compared to kente, fugu fabric is more affordable. The key difference between the two also lies in the style of weaving and the patterns. Kente patterns tend to be quite busy while fugu fabric is made up of stripes in different thicknesses and colours. 

At the end of the day, both fabrics look beautiful and one can choose either one based on preference. Sometimes you can even combine them. How cool is that? Can we all stop saying Northern kente now? 

Why we love Northern smock fabric

Posted on by Juliet Ajaab

In recent times if you follow our collections you will notice a decent amount of hand woven striped fabric in our designs. If you haven’t seen this before then let me introduce you to smock fabric from Northern Ghana also known as fugu material. Similar to Kente by the Ashanti, this fabric is woven with a pretty complex loom. It takes anywhere between a day to 4 days to complete a cloth of native smock fabric. They are woven in strips and sewn together.

It comes in a wide range of colours

We absolutely love this fabric for a number of reasons. Number one is that it comes in a wide range of colours and designs. True they are all stripes but the thickness and intervals make for very cool designs that have that added simplicity we know you love 😍 So far we have used about 6 different colour patterns and styles of smock fabrics for shirts and dresses. A little hint for you… We have more coming soon! Woohoo!

It is versatility

Another cool thing about Northern smock fabric is the fact that they can be used for both clothes and accessories! Did you see our Fugu multi backpack? Even though these are out of stock all you need to do is say the word and we will make some more! Our new collection of slippers have this cool fabric representing as well. We have a pair that matches a shirt we have so you can buy a pair to match with bae. Adorable right?

It’s unique

Finally the thing that makes us fall in love with fugu or Northern smock fabric the most is the fact that it’s not exactly common. Show me more than 2 people wearing a shirt or slippers at an event and I will give you a free gift! If any of them bought it from our Zedi shop it doesn’t count though 😁


Spicy Friday Wear Ideas

Posted on by Juliet Ajaab

When the Friday wear initiative was started many years ago in Ghana, a lot of local designers and clothing makers were excited. For one day in the week, that’s Friday workers all over the country were to wear something made in Ghana to work. A number of people imagined workers walking around in frumpy clothes made with local prints but the fashion forward people showed how exciting this could be. Fast forward to today many workers are looking their best on Fridays. If you are clueless on how to make this work here are some spicy ideas.

 

A cool print shirt with trousers
For men you can’t go wrong with a nicely tailored print shirt with a pair of plain trousers. To keep it fresh and professional opt for dark or neutral colours. Too many colours can easily make you look like you are going for a beach party. The navy blue Tagri shirt is a good choice for Friday wear. To buy one click here.


African print blazer

Interestingly enough this trend works for both men and women pretty nicely. It’s always awesome to have a blazer or jacket made of African print. Nothing says formal and African like it. To make this outfit flawless stick to solid coloured clothing for everything else besides the blazer like trousers, skirts and inner shirts. With so many types of blazer styles women can rock this trend is filled with endless ideas. A peplum blazer, sleeves blazer are just a few ideas to set the ball rolling for you. Zedi makes blazers on a custom made basis. Click here to order one.

 

Smock and smock inspired clothes

The smock from Northern Ghana has made its way into fashion in recent times after ex presidents and the current second lady Samira Bawumia presented their versatility to us. A full smock is awesome for Friday wear as all you need to wear with it are trousers. If your office ac is overzealous at least the smock will keep you warm. Talk about functionality. Smock inspired clothes are also very in vogue at the moment like shirts and dresses with a bit of the unique woven fabric. Zedi has a wide range of smock inspired shirts and dresses. Click here to go to our shop.


Friday wear doesn’t have to be boring or frumpy. With these tips you can bring your A game to the office the next time it’s Friday and ‘chop some fans’ 😁 What’s your favorite Friday outfit?