Imane Ayissi pioneers African textiles at Paris Fashion Week, showcasing Obom tree bark, Ghanaian kente cloth, and Burkina Faso’s kapok fibers. He challenges the stereotype of colorful fabrics, reviving traditional materials like raffia. Ayissi, the first Sub-Saharan African designer at haute couture week (2020), aims to restore pre-colonial fabrics amidst the influx of imports.
Imane Ayissi’s show aligns with a Unesco report highlighting Africa’s thriving fashion sector, featuring 32 countries with fashion weeks. Sub-Saharan clothing market alone exceeded $30 billion in 2020. Unesco’s Toussaint Tiendrebeogo praises African fashion’s dynamism. Ayissi, recognized in exhibitions at the Victoria and Albert Museum and Brooklyn Museum, faces challenges as an independent designer, compounded by the pandemic.
Imane Ayissi strives to elevate authentic African textiles, pioneering at Paris Fashion Week. Using materials like Obom tree bark and Burkina Faso’s kapok, he crafts unique haute couture pieces. Departing from the stereotype of recent vibrant African fabrics, Ayissi, the first Sub-Saharan African at haute couture week in 2020, champions traditional materials like rafia, reflecting pre-colonial heritage.
