With their vintage inspired pieces (handmade with West African Ankara Fabrics), up and coming fashion line Boxing Kitten is our newest Designer Spotlight.
Celebrities like Solange Knowles, Fergie, Jack Davey, and Erykah Badu have been spotted wearing these dope pieces. I recently caught up with Maya A. Lake, the creator of this vibrant line, so she could speak a little more about her creations.
1. Background info. When was the company started? Why did you start it?
I had the idea for the line back in 2005, but I didn’t officially start the line as a company until 2006. I have always been very passionate about clothing, costume, and textiles. I wanted to start a line that was different from the other things that were being offered. I think that I have a unique perspective on women’s clothing and I felt a need to share it with other people. As an artist I just feel a need to share my work with others and I don’t want to do it in a typical way, I want to be my own boss and make my own rules. I think that’s the kind of woman that wears my line and the kind of woman that I strive to be everyday.
2. Can you elaborate a little about the message behind Boxing Kitten?
Boxing Kitten is really about having fun with what you wear. I like things to be unexpected and I have fun with small details like metallic threads and vintage buttons. The philosophy behind the silhouettes is based around fashion of the 50′s and 60′s. When you combine those silhouettes with the fabrics that I use there is a unique result achieved. I’m also drawn to answer the question, “what is authentic,” and how that relates to being an “American.” I think the message is different for every woman that wears a piece, for some women the cuts remind them of their mother, and for others the fabric may bring them to a moment in their childhood.3. Who/what inspires you and your creations?
I am heavily inspired by my Grandmother and mother, textiles, my clients, my friends, and the writings of Evelynn M. Hammonds and Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham. Powerful women from all walks of life inspire me. Inspiration is everywhere and always evolving. It’s very important to grow and I am constantly learning new things, and being inspired by all kinds of women in my life.
4. Where do you see yourself in the future?
I would love to add some mens pieces to the line. I think that menswear is very exciting right now, and I think that I could add something to it. I would love to continue my work with music artists, even maybe design things for stage for a tour.
For more info on BOXING KITTEN, Check out ‘BOXINGKITTEN.COM’
Paper Trace like seriously get ooooovvverrrrrr your self literally. I really don’t know how this could be repeated so many times. All of the designers that you mention of course have already acknowledged the fact that they are from other countries, but HM, Tory Burch, and Gap etc can not be compared because they do not use cultural material from international countries. Like I said before, ALL THESE DESIGNS that she sewed has already been done before and for her to call it her ORIGINAL work is PLAGARISM!! It is different if she sewed it and called it a day, but for her to call it i repeat, her ORIGINAL WORK is plagarism…………………….end of story
I must admit, I love how she took our cloth and made American or European designs. I think think that is brilliant!!! However, she needs to stop being a hater and give credit where credit is due…PERIOD!
I think they only way to shut her down is to buy this fabric from the store and make our own creations. As being half Nigerian I can assure you this fabric is nothing new, but I do think imitation is a sincere form of flattery.
So to my West African ladies, maybe we can design looks for the people out there at a cheaper price.
And we are not hating. She is hating on us and so are the people who think these beautiful fabrics are considered ugly. They are just jealous because they don’t have ‘ROOTS’ for others to ‘steal’ ,lol
@ Paper Trace
His name is NANA BOATENG and he is a GHANAIAN designer who is making quite a name for himself for his bespoke suits, just like his cousin Ozwald Boateng.
This just pisses me off.
There’s nothing creative about this. This is nothing new. She took a trip to Ghana, Nigeria etc. saw these designs and prints and now wants to take credit for it.
Tell it like it is. Give credit where it’s due.
I have known the designer Maya Lake since she was a child: She is the daughter of Oliver Lake, a co-founder of the World Saxaphone Quartet, and Marion Lake founder and owner of Dem Two Hands in Montclair New Jersey. On her mother’s side Maya comes from a long line of creative and enterprising people, some of whom I had the good fortune to know back in Guyana as a young artist. The De Caries family have roots in Guyana that go back over a century :They were merchants, leaders in the green movement before there was a green movement; they were against killing to eat before there was such a term as “vegan” existed. They loved things natural, supported native peoples and were advocates for native women. I believe Marion Lake studied weaving with the African Artist and Rutgers professor emiritus Emma Amos and to this day still sews some of the things for sale in her Montclair store. Her brother, the drummer Gene Lake, is a fixture on the international Jazz scene. His wife, the scholar Belinda Edmundson, is a tenured professor in African American Studies at Rutgers, Newark. She is the author of Making Men, Gender, Literary Authority and Womens Writing in Caribbean Narrative. I attended a lecture by Yinka Shonibare MBE at the Newark Museum with Maya and Marion recently : Her pedigree and influences as an artist are clear. This work is authentic. PLEASE!!!
@Risa, hun I understand where your coming from but the argument is, is that the whole modernized designs that she is doing and trying to portray has already been done and that she is trying to call it her “Original” work.
Go ‘head Ms. Lake… I’m so very proud of you, congrats on ur up and coming success. Came a long way from Maya L and Maya G hanging on Adelphi.
@ victor…
Exactly what makes her work authentic?
Man, this discussion got me all heated up. Victor L. Davson, I do not see THE CORRELATION between Maya’s family history and the authenticity behind her work. I had hoped she was part African but clearly she’s not.
The point is, this here work is NOT authentic. I agree with the other posts, what is missing here is recognition… Everyday, everywhere in West Africa seamstresses and tailors make the same kind of dresses (you’ll be amazed by the array of styles they make, cuting the prints, agencing the colors, true creativity at its best) for a fraction of the price she offers, I truly feel insulted… And no, she doen’t “modernize” anythng, as a kid I used to wear shorts and overalls made off ankara!! Come on!!
I’m hurt, really, I feel for Africa. Exploitation at its best.
This designer is clear about her milieu and her influences. Please!!!
thankyou sooo much Angel for addressing that they are Ankara prints! Im so happy SOMEONE acknowledged that. I am from the Ashanti tribe desent, first generation Canadian, and Im LAUGHINGGG RIGHT NOWW at these designers who try to be original.
As for her not mentioning her “inspiration”…its whatever. my parents are ghanaian and me and my mom were sitting here laughing at her website lol. my mom was like “I HAVE THAT!!” Just like the “indian inspired” prints ripped off the people of india, same is happening here. lol all i know is that i aint paying 200+ DOLLARS for sumthing you can get, customized and all, for like 50 DOLLARS.
chill out maya.
WOW THAT’S SO DISRESPECTFUL FOR HER NOT TO EVEN MENTION AFRICA!!
NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE BUT THE CLOTHES ARE A LITTLE TOO BUSY FOR
MY LIKING. AFRICA IS BEAUTIFUL BUT HER CREATIONS ARE SO-SO LOL
Victor you seem not to understand the question..
WHAT IS ORIGINAL ABOUT HER WORK????
This has already been there and done that by so many African designers, and YES Yinka Shonibare is a designer that you mentioned that you both went to his seminar. Was she influenced by him??? Was she influenced by other African Designers?? Was she influenced by my fellow Africans who wear these designs non stop and manipulate it into soooo many designs?? and then she calls it her AUTHENTIC and ORIGINAL WORK???? ppuuuuhhhleeaasssseeee!!
No one is hating on her, most definatley not on a African perspective lol never I hate the fact that people take from us and run with it.
iam not mad at here making her hustle…but there’s nothing original about it its been out foreverrrrr….so iam guessing one African American women create an expansive line that’s when everyone want to hop on it…really? wow! by the way iam Nigerian and my aunt tailors these Ankara and lace in her basement and she not on concrete.
I did an african fashion show with AFRICAN designers where the clothes looked like this and had african fabric. I think the designer had a good idea and it got celebs thinking its cool but like I said before not a new idea and although nothing is really a new idea the designers still mention their inspirations whether its from the 80′s or where ever. As a west African I just wish she had said where it was from no hating her she is hustling just like anyother person out there but just be true about what your doing is all that’s being asked.
P.S. I wouldnt pay 200 and up for any of the designs cuz my brother who is living in africa can “design” her whole collection for me FOR FREE!
I checked her website to see what she had to say about her line. SMH, these days you can sell anything to anyone with words, you’ll think that her work is the product of endless days/nights of studies, research and inner thinking. The seamstresses in African know nothing about civil right movement or african-american history. somehow they manage to make the exact same clothes, just in a more classy, beautiful, and authentic way.
Please Maya, you obviously have good taste (in choosing the fabric) and mabe talent, do not kill what could be a great career by making these kinds of mistakes. There,s no wrong in borrowing from other cultures, but aknowledgement is soooo important and presenting your work as original is just plain mean. Seeing that you studied African-american history and the civil rigts movement you should know what it feels like to be exploited, denigrated, overlooked. It’s not ok, and it never will be ok.
@Mecca, I agree. sorry for the misreference. Love his work. @risa, i couldn’t agree more
@Naija Da Vixen, ha ha, I beg to differ. Tory is straight influenced from Indian Caftans. That’s how she got her start. Her work has changed and grown since then, but $300 caftans are always part of her line. The other brands are not original either … which is my point, no one is. Their designs are “plagiarized” as well, by your standards, so they most definitely can be compared.
She started her company in 2006 she says… Here in Brooklyn, 2 Nigerians sisters have been doing this a decade before and has also had Erykah and Common wearing thier designs. They are actually Nigerian and ALWAYS give props to their Nigerian roots.
http://harrietsalteregoonline.com/
INFFFFO ur highly gassed nobody is hating, well done to lil miss maya for this but to come with out and lie saying her stuff is original and unique and not even have the decency to tell the world were these beautiful ankara fabrics come from AFRICA..WEST AFRICA is what is irking (pissing) us west africans off..she said nothing about the design brain of those who design the fabrics. sweety its nothing new i just came back from nigeria were i designed outfits usiing ankara…and they arw hot they wernt no $200. there are other beautiful fabrics which these gassed designers will still and say nothing about its origins like asho-oke and gele etc…(google and get to know if u don’t)
all we r sayin is a lil recognition…
there was an african rise fashion show a few months you shld see what africa can doo….
its the direspect of her not acknowledging the core west african roots and if she did open her mouth to say the quality of west african produced ankara is worse than the us produced ones she’s rather idiotic..we do use the authentic techniques
i agree with SUGABABE. I’m Nigerian and i have all sorts of ankara’s home that are really nice and not as expensive as this. all you need ia a tailor.
hey Angel if you really want to see creativity with Ankara check COTE MINOU or SIKA DESIGNS. GOOGLE THEM> Would put this woman to shame!!
Ghana ALLLL DAYYY
@Paper Trace your ignorance is GLARING. Nana Boateng is GHANAIAN. if you were turly dating a 9JA you would immediately know that just by looking at his freakin NAME. Nana . Boateng a Naija name? ROFLMAO. stop it!
And please don’t call the “Safari” inspired deisgns as some of you here called them to African design. Africans do not wear clothing with zebra and cheetah prints on them. the idea is inherently stupid.
there is nothing new about you creation… this has been around for years….. this is african ankara fabric…. new need to know more about your history on ankara before u can start saying its your own…
how can u take all the credit in this when u know nothing about ankara (african designs) or where it came from… u dont kno any history behind it…. shame on u!!!!!
WOW!!!! thanks Paper Trace for helping me make my point!!! =) They are not original and at least Tory made a point claiming that that is her influence and that it is not her original work. Yes! Indian Kaftans have already been done, but has Tory claimed that it is her original work?? NO!! She was “Inspired” by the people of India and I do respect her for that.
However, Maya Lake, hm, well her stuff is not original which she is claiming that it is. Are you actually getting that?? She is claiming that this is her “Original” work when there are countless of designers in Africa and Africans based in the US doing this stuff. Its kinda of sad that now nothing is original and there are knock offs every where. Does any one understand that this isn’t just plain old cotton, silk, satin that we are talking about? This is cultural material such as ankara, agbada, osikani, woodina the list goes forth…. that is used that we have already manipulated to give it a modernized twist and someone out of no where claims that it is there original work, sell it in the US for 300 bucks, and gets credit for it.
Like I mentioned before, I’m not mad that she used the material, not at all, I’m actually flattered, I’m mad and others are upset that she is using our material, designing it and saying that it is her “original” work and claiming it was various time eras that influenced her or what ever…
Paper Trace, its like getting Saris, sewing it into there traditional attire, or in other ways and claiming that it is your original work but not even acknowledging the fact that you are not giving them any credit because of the influence they had on you.
Like I said no one is hating on her, she can do what she does, her stuff is nice but I would appreciate if she could not claim that this is her Original stuff… that is why alot of Africans are getting angry, we just some times feel like others take our shine or credibility and run with it, and it hurts…honestly
but who cares right? nothing is original now these days….
@ inffo……”ok. glad to see that everyone has had their glass of “hater-aid” this morning. My favorite thing is to watch black people hate on other black people for no particular reason.”
is she even black? i dont think so.
Please folks, show your love!
This designer is legit.
Victor, I respect and understand your position, in that we always want to encourage those that we know and love, but please, please, step aside for a minute and take a look at what we’ve been trying to say.
I don’t know where you’re from but you say Maya is (part) guyanese, so I’ll take this example :
What if someone – let’s say an up and coming white american singer, comes out with a hot new single, which they claim they wrote and composed (from beginning to end, lyrics, melody and everything)… and you realize that this is the EXACT same song your grandmothers/mothers//sisters have proudly been singing for decades back home in Guyana…
How would you feel???? Would you want to show love?
If she did sew the garments then there’s no doubt she’s talented. I think she is. But does she even know the MEANING behind some of the fabrics up there? Like the one with the Virgin Mary (that she obviously cut and assembled with other prints) does she know what this stand for? Those are used exclusively for religious events, like the Assumption of Mary, weddings, funerals, etc…
She should have gone further and explain the history behind the prints. Does she know that most of these prints have names (titles)? Like the one called “Obama” (very recent) or the one called “Ton pied mon pied” (much older) in Ivory Cost…
Culture is sacred. If you can’t honor it, then leave it alone.
You don’t just go around, use what you want in order to make money and call it “creativity” or “originality”.
Well guys i cease my case thank you Rae for summing the whole thing up. I think I’ve written in this forum enough under this topic lol.
As for Victor, I’m really not as mad as I was anymore, she can do what she does, I like her stuff, I mean why wouldn’t I?? I see it all the time =) Very flattered that she is using our material, that’s good to see!!
Anyways, as for my fellow Africans, lets just keep on flaunting our traditional wear where ever we go as usual and embracing our culture.
Good Night Guys!!!
i dont think this is originality. i just think she bumped into some africans in their attire and she decided to make american styled close with african material. am nigerian and nigerian taylors make this stuff all the time.
“EVERY INNOVATION IN HISTORY IS BUILT ON SOMETHING THAT ALREADY WAS. ”
inffffo ,Thursday, August 13, 2009
“I am heavily inspired by my Grandmother and mother, textiles, my clients, my friends, and the writings of Evelynn M. Hammonds and Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham..”
“The philosophy behind the silhouettes is based around fashion of the 50’s and 60’s. When you combine those silhouettes with the fabrics that I use there is a unique result achieved. I’m also drawn to answer the question, “what is authentic,” and how that relates to being an “American.” I think the message is different for every woman that wears a piece…”
Maya Lake
“Ankara, which codes now as “African,” had its origin in Indonesian batiks. The Dutch colonial interest in Indonesia led to an effort to replicate these multi-coloured and densely patterned fabrics in the Netherlands, an effort spearheaded in 1846 by the van Vlissengen family.
The idea was that the fabric could be mass-produced, and bring in profits for the manufacturers. The experiment failed: the Indonesians preferred their own home-made fashion, and soon put heavy tariffs on the imports.
But, by one of those historical ironies that characterises colonial adventures, Dutch freighters offloaded some of the bales of cloth in West Africa, and the African market took to it. This was in the late 19th century, and the van Vlissingen’s company, called Vlisco, has dominated the design, supply and distribution of the cloth since then.
Even today, women from Senegal all the way to the Congo will ask for “real Dutch wax” or “veritable wax Hollandais,” and will rather pay the exhorbitant prices for that quality (or perception of quality) than be seen in Chinese, Pakistani and, lately, Nigerian imitations.
Even Vlisco’s West African subsidiaries, such as GTP in Ghana, have not been given the proprietary secrets of their wax-print machines, and as a result cannot advertise their products as “real Dutch wax.”
Teju Cole
“…the cloth known in English as Dutch wax print and in Yoruba as ankara.
In the art world today, this fabric has become something of a visual synonym for Shonibare’s work.
But far from solving the problem of [AUTHENTICITY] for him, the use of those fabrics renewed the struggle around authenticity. Ankara, which codes now as “African,” had its origin in Indonesian batiks. ”
Teju Cole
NEXT, July 10, 2009
just returned from Ghana. Saw the same styles in Accra at a FRACTION of the price. tailors and seamstresses crank out these beautiful outfits on a regular basis.
Victor, we al wear it, real wax hollandais or not real. Some women can afford the ones that come from Europe, some women can’t. We all know what a “payne wax hollandais” is, and we know where they come from, thank you.
Basically what you’re saying is because they are not made in Africa then they are not inherently African. Wow. It’s like saying that the toys made by an American company for the American consumers in China are not American, but Chinese.
You also want to prove a point by saying that originally the Ankara was created by other countries, therefore they are not the property of Africa? How dare you?? It’s like saying that the statue of liberty does not belong to the USA because the French built it. Or saying that America was discovered by C. Colombus, therefore America is also European.
People will exploit Africa at by cost and will always come out with some kind of written history to “prove” it. They take our most precious goods and claim it as their own, or worse, as anybody’s property. SAD.
I really hope Africa rises up before it’s too late and we’re left with nothing in our hands.
@Me, I couldn’t have said it ANY better…
These fabrics are from MY country GHANA (the same country and originators of KENTE CLOTH, worn by the royals of the ASHANTI TRIBE). My mom sells these cloths and has been trading in them since the 70s. Its however very sad that the chinese are now stealing our customary and symbolic designs of these cloths and selling fake ones in the market. The real proper cloths are manufactered in Holland where my mom goes to get them.
Its interesting how foreigners are now embrassing our cloths.
ps; Nigerian and Ivory Coast wear them too, but everyone knows the originators our us, Nigerians are originators of the ashoke stuff worn by the yorubas.
In ghana now, these ankaras are sewn in to beautiful dresses instead of the original “kaba and slit”. I live in atlanta and wear them all the time and people in Phippps and Lenox are always starring at me wonderin what store did i buy it. No maam i dont buy from not store, i sew it back home in Accra – Ghana whenever i go home.
womp womp. nice try victor, but wax print is clearly an african influence that is simply a variant, just as the indonesian variant printed batik production, which you included in your little history lesson. Anyone with half a brain would know this with knowledge of the likes of kente cloth (origin 3000 BC)…so move around please. thanks. Maya Lake has a unique look in comparison to what is popular, but she is nowhere near original.
I love her pieces!
cc Go Ghana! Go Ghana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Haitian/Ghanian)
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Uhmmm…okay….so if you check out Bella Naija you would find A LOT of African designers who use this material (which is called Ankara or African print) being used in some many different ways and designed differently as well. I was expecting for the designer that you featured to give respect to where respect is due (to mainly West African designers) whom have been making clothing like this WAY BEFORE 2005!! Being that I am Nigerian-American, I feel as though our style of fashion is being copied without proper acknowledgement….
I’m from Zim and we love Ankara prints down here as well. (Props to the Nigerian and Ghanaian seamstresses, their designs if marketed well would put a lot of designers to shame!!!!!) And I’m really insulted @ the fact that MS. KITTEN chose to deliberately omit the fact that these are african inspired designs and african fabric, which I must say is of a higher quality than the ones shown here.
Really, get the facts right
*Note: Mixing two different designs is a NO-NO!
Now That’s Hilarious!
I’ve been wearing clothing like that for years and now all of a sudden it’s “in”
Interesting how that happens.
People are now embracing some African culture.
It’s about time.
love it thats my style
Not original at all many africans and non africans all over the world (europe/AFRICA) have these outfits made to measure