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)
—-

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