Ivory Coast Afro Futuristic Fashion : Olooh Concept
Olooh Concept is an Ivorian Afro Futuristic fashion brand Kader Diaby, a 26-year-old Ivorian photographer founded in 2018. Apart from the fashion brand, Diaby is famous for his poetic images which numerous fashion magazines and ad campaigns have showcased. He graduated in management control and audit in Rabat, Morocco. He currently works for a multinational firm in Abidjan. Furthermore, Diaby is a trained professional photographer with the Klaym organization, in collaboration with the University of the arts in Zurich. He started his fashion journey in 2017 as he designed outfits for his photoshoots. Interestingly, he learned his sewing techniques from his mother, who was a trained tailor. Apart from making designs from organic fabric handcrafted in the Ivory Coast, Diaby’s designs focus on modernism as they are unisex. Olooh means ‘Our’ from the native Senufo language. As such, below, we have featured the latest collection from his afro futuristic Ivorian brand, Olooh Concept.
FW21 Boulevard Lagunaire Collection
Boulevard Lagunaire collection recognizes period between the 1960s and 1980s of Ivory Coast when it was the hub of West Africa. Indeed, this period was like the golden age of the Ivory Coast. For instance, the country was renowned for its architecture, elegance, art, craftsmen and urban music. Currently, the Boulevard Lagunaire collection by Olooh Concept is a projection of Ivory Coast’s summary. Certainly, it is a collection that is fast-forwarding into the future where Ivoirians learn to value the golden heritage. Furthermore, this collection embodies the minimalism concept; the silhouettes are uncompromisingly clean and have sleek details of upcycled brass buttons.
Women in the commune of Treichville in Abidjan, Ivory Coast dye the clothes from organic linen, cotton and handwoven textiles. The buttons and bronze buckles all handmade. While the label’s letter ‘O’, design occurs at the craft center of Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast, leather accessories production occurs at Treichville, Abidjan.
Additionally, this collection focuses less on the nostalgic past thus bringing the legacy and strength of the golden era into the future using fashion as its vehicle. It encourages the African youth to develop an eagerness for change.