Ankara
/Kitenge fabrics have produced garments that have become the latest fashion trend across the globe. I have
seen them adapted into mainstream apparels from the likes of Asos, Forever21
and Topshop. It comes to no surprise that now you can find Ankara /Kitenge style
apparel in the form of dresses, skirts, suits,
pants, shorts, bathing suites, as well
as accessories like jewellery, bags, purses and shoes. It is definitely not
your mama’s traditional skirt and blouse ensemble that you will find at African
weddings.
The current popularity
of Ankara/ kitenge garments is how they have been adapted into current styles
and trends like peplum dresses, formal gowns, jumpsuits and
trench coats! Oh my! So as soon as I had received my cousins wedding invitation
for his fall wedding in Charleston, South Carolina, I knew I had to represent
the mamma Africa with a Kitenge/Ankara garment. I immediately got pinning away,
however finding this dream dress was no easy task for multiple reasons.
- I only had this epiphany a few months before the wedding and I could not
find a local African tailor or seamstress or Kitenge/Ankara fabric in my city (Now on my things to do list for
2014)
- International designers charge an arm, a leg and your first-born child.
International shipping time was usually a miss ( give 4-6 weeks
for delivery or double shipping costs for express shipping)
- Most designs that I wanted were sold out. This was due to all the summer weddings, fall was a bad time to look for garments online.
I suggest looking for pieces in spring when new designs are out for wedding
season
- Etsy has talented African designers and tailors in the US that do made
to measure garments. A word of caution, read the reviews first! I found some
sellers had minimal sales, bad reviews and ripped designs and images off the internet
with no pictures of their OWN finished product. This could lead to great disappointment
if the tailor’s skills do not measure up to the design they have promised.
- At the very last minute, I did find an outfit for the rehearsal dinner. Thank you Foever 21! Who knew! Now that I am in the know of how to find Ankara/ kitenge style garments I will be rocking more of these looks next year!
DemestiksNewYork
(Etsy: Here)
Forever 21- Neon Sweet Fit & Flare Dress - (Here) Asos -African Wax Print matching twin set outfit shorts & top (Here)
FYI: What I do Know.....
- Kiting or chitenge is an African garment similar to sarong, often worn by women wrapped around the chest or waist, over the head as a headscarf, or as a baby sling
- Kitenges are similar to kangas and kikoy, but are of a thicker cloth, and have an edging only on a long side. Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Sudan are some of the African countries where kitenge is worn
- In other African countries likeMalawi, Namibia and Zambia, kitenge is known as Chitenge
Labels: Fashion
