Dress
Designer
Lisa Folawiyo
Spring 2015
Cotton and glass beads
Gift of Lisa Folawiyo
Object number2015.6.1
Nigerian designer Lisa Folawiyo is known for modernizing and embellishing Ankara, a West African fabric, using her own custom prints and embellishments. The Dutch developed Ankara to mimic 16th century Javanese batik, and West Africans adopted it into their dress, starting in the 19th century. Folawiyo’s international appeal today reestablishes Ankara’s historical roots.
DescriptionAqua green and dark grey irregular striped printed cotton short sleeve dress with sueded surface and hand beaded iridescent bronze bugle beads along stripe edges, oblong tongue like shaped panels at CF and CB in green sueded cotton with striped geometric grid print in dark red and pink beaded overall with dark red and iridescent pink bugle beads and red iridescent bugle bead fringe at front panel, oblong tongue like gore panel at skirt sides in green shantung with striped geometric grid print in black and blue beaded overall in black and blue bugle beads with blue bugle bead fringe; fitted bodice with flared A-line skirt, above knee length with scalloped hemline; round neckline; front and back princess seams; invisible zipper at CB closure, hook and eye at neckCollections
Exhibitions