Photo documentaryVibrant, traditional and contemporary African clothing enlivened the catwalks of Ouaga Fashion Week from May 9-14.
The West African nation has hosted its third Ouaga Fashion Week, the first since the pandemic forced its postponement, and is struggling to combat its poor reputation due to a recent coup and attacks by jihadist groups on its territory.
Some of the highly anticipated parades took place on a central street in Ouagadougou. To circumvent the frequent power outages, models and stylists used the lights on their cellphones to do their makeup and hair before the show.
“Burkina is one of the African countries that has a lot of potential to offer when it comes to fashion… This is the reason why I set up this project, to expose Burkinabe designers and have them recognized in the world. international level »said Alex Zabsonre, director of the event.
The traditional fabric of Burkina Faso, the faso dan fani, handwoven from cotton, has often been in the spotlight, worn by ambassadors such as singer Beyoncé and fashion designer Stella McCartney. The country is one of the top ten cotton exporters in the world, accounting for an average of 3% of world exports since 2000, according to the United Nations.
Some 35 designers, chosen from 200 applicants, from West Africa and Europe, presented their creations. For the first time, the majority of them, about 75%, were from Burkina Faso.
“These little-known craftsmen must be taken into consideration in the global fashion arena so that these crafts, these traditions remain”said Mallika Chaudhuri, founder and director of INDOI, a brand for women in Britain. “We must maintain local craftsmanship, cooperation between designers and manufacturers for a more ethical and sustainable fashion industry. »
