Afia explores how we weave our heritage through our past, present and future. This collection relies on the usage of Kente, a traditional hand-woven cloth from Ghana. Kente cloth has existed since the 12th century, and still holds incredible significance across the African diaspora. It contains a wealth of knowledge, expressed through colors, weaving patterns, and symbols. Such symbols relay messages, like “Sankofa”, which tells us to look to our past to inform our future, or “Aya” which reminds us to be resourceful and to overcome.
Afia asks questions of what significance and purpose Kente cloth will have in the future: Will there be any left? Will it be worn just anywhere, and in any form? What will it represent, to both wearers and onlookers? Through the process of reweaving into the future, Kente cloth symbolizes the endurance, beauty, and groundedness of the African diaspora. Afia brings Kente into an everyday contemporary context through integration with other classic woven fabrics, namely linen and denim. In other words, Afia serves as a reminder to all that Kente can be celebrated on any day, at any time.
