Un Poquito Mas Duro
While we're busy gathering stories in the flesh at South By Southwest Eco in Austin over the next couple of days, regular Milkshake contributor Adwoa checks in from Nigeria with her own global spin on a brand that deserves recognition.
If you’re lucky, your high school reunion will culminate at best in a Romy and Michelle-esque moment of vindication and personal empowerment. But for the creative duo behind ethical apparel brand Osei-Duro, it resulted in a creative collaboration that spans the globe and sets a high bar for sustainable style.
Molly Keogh and Maryanne Mathias first met in high school. But at their 10 year reunion, Maryanne told Molly she’d just returned from a trip around the world, and wondered if she wanted to accompany her back to Ghana. Molly said yes, and the rest is history. Intricate artisanal designs such as the cropped baseball jacket ($94) or the aptly/adorably named "tight skirt" ($45) attest to the fact that mashups between traditional fabrics and current fashion can be both trendy and stunning.
My parents are both Ghanaian, and it’s thrilling to see traditional West African waxprint and bogolan fabrics interpreted in a new way. It’s a little country, but it punches far above its weight where the use of color and texture are concerned. The dignity and humor of these textiles resonated around me growing up – catching it on a wider stage feels like the rest of the world is finally being let in on the secret.
About the Author
Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong is a writer and editor who just can't stay still. The southwest Florida native has lived in New England, New York, Portugal, and Italy, and presently lives and works in Nigeria. When she is not writing, she can usually be found scouting obnoxiously bright dresses, massive sunglasses, and cheap plane tickets.
