MyWeku

Followers of fashion are about to be introduced to brightly coloured batik, geometric traditional African prints all with an authentic African twist in 2010!

The main promoters of this trend are a mix of African designers and international fashion houses.

The African designers include Nigerian-born Duro Olowu whose use of vibrant colour combinations and African prints has won him many plaudits. His uniqueness lies in his sure-handed way of sourcing precious old-school couture fabrics, and piecing them together in unexpected combinations.

Others include Phyllis Taylor, founder of Sika Designs who draws her inspiration from Ghanaian prints like Kente. Sika Designs selects all their fabrics from local Ghanaian markets. Each unique piece defines an area in West Africa’s vast textile landscape, using traditional fabrics such as tie dye, batik’s and wax prints

Deola Sagoe is another designer who will be making waves this year. Her refreshing exploration of that which is genuinely African evokes a subtle nostalgia for history by her favoured use of hand woven fabrics, accessories like cowries, crystals, and beads, as well as the extensive use of gold.

Max Osterweis, a new designer of Kenyan origin and a favourite of Michelle Obama is another to keep an eye on.