• TOP: Cotton jacket with Digitally Printed Collage on Taffeta fabric.

    BOTTOM: Embroidered Stone Lace Calvary Jodhpurs .

  • The opening look features a drape collar vest with lace jodhpurs. The draped collar vest is made up from cotton drill as the base of the body with a printed taffeta as the accent. The taffeta was printed in an artwork collage I created of myself farming during my brief trip to Zambia. The collage features images of me farming in action as well as futuristic lines and motions. The vest is lined with the initial sample of the botanical textile in collaboration with Stephanie Achonwa for minimal wastage and to tie together the collection through print. The lace was used to make the jodhpurs to show fragility in the strictness and because it is quite unconventional in its presentation. The exaggerated rounded shape of the jodhpurs is to compliment the shape of the cattle while respecting the iconic uniform the Herero ‘Otruppe’ soldiers wear.

Herero Dress with Extended Embroidered Lapel Shirt

  • TOP: White Cotton Extended Lapel Shirt with Stone Embroidery.

    BOTTOM: Digitally Printed Checkered Organic Cotton-Satin.

  • The Herero dress is a two piece garment that has a short sleeved shirt under a voluminous gown. The dress has an exaggerated bib collar with heavy lace embroidery detailing. The lace was effective in producing a luxury feel and to elevate the craftsmanship of the garment through textile. The dress is composed of a textile I created and printed to relate to the patch work textile design seen on the original Herero women dresses. I hand wove a checkered like design into sample size before digitalising it into an artwork. The textile is printed on organic cotton satin fabric to give the garment a nice drape while holding shape simultaneously. The silhouette is influenced by the Herero women and Kennedy Yanko’s, ‘Remnants of rust on my face’ art piece. Emphasis on the hips and the rounded form that leads into a seamless drape was the focus.

Kente Suit with Botanical Pleated Trousers

  • TOP: Digitally Printed Redesigned Kente on Woven Herringbone Fabric.

    BOTTOM: Botanical Printed Pleated Trouser on 100% wool fabric.

  • The Kente jacket silhouette originates from the military suits the Herero men wear, which was actually introduced to them by their colonisers. I added a flared aspect from the waist down to mimic the shape of the cattle (sacred animal to the Herero tribe). The pleated sleeves were made to create fluidity in the garment. The kente textile fabric was handwoven into a sample then scanned and made into an artwork. I chose the Kente pattern because I hail from Ghana so I decided to blend my two cultures into the print with the bright colours representing the Herero dresses worn by females. It is printed on Mayfair Herringbone weave fabric to give a luxury finish as well as elevate the print. This jacket is paired with pleated trousers made from flannel wool that have botanical print form the hem upwards to the knee. The hem has a 5 cm turnup to give a nice fall where the shoe meets the trouser. The style and print of the pleated trousers is related to Pamela Sunstrums, ‘grand-peres’ painting which shows two men standing in a futuristic landscape with leafs and nature printed on their suits worn.

Military Cropped Vest with Lace Jodhpurs

AF-GRO MOVING FORWARD LOOKS ONE TO THREE.

Draped Shirt with Quilted Batik Apron

  • TOP: 100% Italian Cotton fabric with a suede drape at the back.

    BOTTOM: Quilted Batik Chest/Waist Shield on 100% cotton backed with suede

  • The draped shirt dress was a garment in the collection that was most fluid in terms of wearability between genders. This piece is a take on the classic white shirt, made in Italian cotton shirting with asymmetrical detailing and an olive suede fabric drapery influenced by Kennedy Yanko’s work that is seamlessly integrated. The shirt dress is knee-height , features exaggerated placket detailing and the yoke emerging into an interesting fluid drape. A quilted apron made out of batik fabric in 100% cotton is attached on top of the shirt.

Af-Gro Batik Biker Vest Jacket with 3/4 Wide Trousers

  • TOP: Quilted Biker Vest in Denim with Handmade Batik textile on 100% Cotton fabric.

    BOTTOM: Quilted 3/4 trousers with Handmade Batik textile on 100% Cotton fabric.

  • The Af-Gro batik co ord consists of a biker jacket and a three quarter flared trousers. This looks explores a lot of textiles and materiality. The biker jacket jacket is made out of denim with panels made out of quilted batik fabric I created. The batik fabric was created in Ghana during my trip in January of 2022. I learnt how to create batik from scratch and work on this 3 yard piece that a features an artwork stamp print with my brand logo along with natural and Adinkra symbolism. I quilted the fabric to added more texture to the fabric and to give dimensionality. The trouser is crafted at a length that is functional for agricultural practices with denim jean detailing. This looks features multiple pockets on the biker jacket and the trouser to allow to maximum storage of whatever tools needed.

Herero Power Trench with Calvary Jodhpurs

  • TOP: 100% wool & Jersey wool for sleeves.

    BOTTOM: Calvary Wool

  • The Herero Power Trench is the last look the collection paired with Calvary Jodhpurs. The silhouette derives from the Herero soldiers with iconic military detailing and a puffer sleeve to add a touch of softness to the harsh from. The trench has a curved cut out detail on the right front to expose the shape of the trousers underneath. The coat features a fagoting stitch detail that separates the hem of the garment. The stitch detail creates a dramatic floating and ‘suspension’ effect when worn. The bottom of the power trench has a metallic botanical textile print creating a wrap of nature around the garment. The Calvary jodhpurs are in reference to the Herero ‘Otruppe’ soldiers with detailing of the ‘DIY’ cardboard shapes the young soldiers use as styling for their uniforms. The trousers are made out of wool twill with a tailored faced waistband detail.

AF-GRO MOVING FORWARD LOOKS FOUR TO SIX.

AFGRO, MOVING FORWARD DEBUT AT THE GRADUATE FASHION SHOW 2022.

CATCH ALL SIX LOOKS ON THE RUNWAY

AFTER THE SHOW…lil moves here and there!

Designer & Creative director: Gracey OA @gogragra

Photographer: Carlos Duro @carlos.duro

Stylist: Gracey OA @gogragra

Models: Joseph and Nnamdi @jo_adeo @nizforeva

Casting: Molly Peachy-Pape @mollypeacheypape

Studio assistants: Jack, Jana & Emiliya @ratjack @janaspiekermann @313.emiliya.13

Botanical textile print in collaboration with Stephanie Achonwa

Leather Bags in collaboration with Anu Bankole