i-D meets the people pushing Dakar’s creative scene forward, from fashion designer Mimi Plange to the Creative Director of Orange Culture Nigeria, Adebayo Oke-Lawal. Here, they discuss the evolving fashion landscape of Senegal.
From queuing to see the tailor on the corner of the street where she first learned about fashion to opening her own studio, Diarra Bousso, the fashion designer behind DIARRABLU expands on the importance of bringing the Senegalese culture to an international audience. In the same vein, Adama Paris, the founder and producer behind Dakar Fashion Week shares her motivation for bringing together and giving a platform to young African designers, whilst photographer and model Malick Bodian reflects on his own journey to being inspired by the beautiful things that surround him in his hometown.
We also attended the show of French fashion house CHANEL, who made fashion history this season when they presented their latest Métiers d’art collection in Dakar, at the former Palais de Justice on the island of Gorée. Rapper, Singer and Producer, Pharrell Williams who was in attendance tells i-D, “it was a dream of mine to be somewhere here and I am so glad they chose Senegal”.