JULY AFRICAN PRINT FASHION WITH TÁYÉ
I am a storyteller and I believe that clothes tell stories. Each time you cross the threshold of your home, you make a statement, willingly or not.
A bright, colourful outfit might denote one’s happy nature or need to be noticed. Dark clothes convey a business-like attitude. Red garments are often a symbol of power or strength. White clothing symbolises purity and innocence.
This video features a high-waisted pencil skirt with a large band. It is made out of African print fabric and was designed by Taiwo Adebesin, a renowned and passionate Nigerian fashion designer based in Warsaw, Poland. His clothing brand is called TÁYÉ’ and its motto is “BE PROUD, STAND OUT”.
Rightly so.
TÁYÉ caught my attention in 2017. Those were the early days of Learn English With Africa. Back then, I was exploring what it really meant to be African. I had lived in Europe for almost two decades and I needed to reconnect with my roots.
As part of this self-discovery journey, I wanted to get high quality African print clothes. Unfortunately, I did not have the financial means at the time as my business was just nascent.
To say the truth, fashion has always been one of my favourite mediums of self-expression. In 2016, I became truly obsessed with African print clothes. I wore these clothes almost every day and I learned how to make them too thanks to YouTube videos made by talented and dedicated people. By the way, I also learnt how to braid hair then!
When I came across TÁYÉ’s Facebook page, I could not believe my luck! Here was a Nigerian designer based in the same city I lived. I looked at the different types of colourful clothes he offered, all beckoning to be worn. For me, Taiwo was a source of inspiration.
I chanced upon Taiwo in September 2018 at the opening of an African eatery in Warsaw. It was a promising fast-food restaurant offering different types of African dishes and I was curious to know what this was all about. I recognised Taiwo and arranged an interview with him. He was patient and easy to talk to. I imagined that he got along with many of his customers because of his good nature.
We communicated by email and I was excited to finally ask Taiwo a few questions about his art and business. Fate would have it otherwise. On the 4th of October, 2018 tragedy struck in my family and my world was turned upside down. Life would never be the same for me again. Needless to say, the interview never took place.
Fast-forward to June 2023. I was looking for an original idea as a gift for my birthday. I thought about TÁYÉ and how in 2018 I was not able to afford this brand’s clothing. Why not get myself some outfits, I asked myself. Why not? This would be a very special present for me. I had wanted these clothes so much and now I was in the realm of possibility! I could finally wear TÁYÉ!
TÁYÉ has an online shop but I wanted to see and try on the clothes in person. I called and got a prompt response. We arranged a meeting at his studio in Piaseczno the following Saturday. Once I arrived at the studio, it was amazing to see the different types of clothes and the dedication that this man pours into his creativity. Once again I was inspired.
By the way, I keep my clothes for a long time so I pay attention to what I buy. When I purchase an article of clothing, I want to fall in love with it. My eyes see but it is my heart that chooses. It was therefore of no surprise when after countless minutes of searching that my gaze fell upon this high-waisted pencil skirt. It was love at first sight!
Suddenly I screamed and said this was it! I tried the skirt on and it was perfection. I am glad that Taiwo was very patient and helped me to find the desired outfit. The skirt cost 190 PLN and I took it home that day. I ordered three more skirts to be done in different fabrics. Yes, I had found THE SKIRT FOR ME and I wanted it in different shades. Anyway, that is how I function.
This is the story of how the featured skirt in the video came into being. I am looking forward to more stories like this with future items of clothing. I wonder what my next coup de coeur will be. Maybe Taiwo has an idea. He is the creator of this magic of course!
By the way, dear readers, what was your favourite outfit?
Further Exploration: July African Print Fashion with TÁYÉ
More about TÁYÉ:
Read:
- African Fabric: Where did African Prints Come From?, Accentric Yoruba, TÁYÉ , January 2019
- Why Learning How to Sew is Like Learning How to Speak English (Informative Article), Level B1-B2, Learn English With Africa, January 2019
Shop:
About the Author
Thandi Ngwira Gatignol is the founder of Learn English With Africa. She was born on June 11th, 1981 in Blantyre, Malawi. When she was 19, she left her country of birth for France. She currently lives with her two daughters and husband in Poland.
Thandi holds a Bachelor’s degree in English studies obtained at the Université Paris X Nanterre in France and a Certificate in Journalism from Malawi. She has taught English as a French Ministry of Education certified teacher both in France and in Poland. She speaks six languages fluently, including French, Polish and Italian. She is now learning Kiswahili, German and Spanish. Salt No More is her debut novel and you can find her other books here on the website or on Amazon.
Blog Article: TÁYÉ—1 Beautiful Skirt, 5 Outstanding Outfits: July African Print Fashion With Taiwo Adebesin! (Level B1-B2)© Learn English With Africa, July 2023
