FROM TRADITION TO TRENDY: THE EVOLUTION OF ANKARA

Tosin Clegg

Ankara, also known as the African wax print fabric, is one of the most versatile and loved fabrics used in fashion nowadays. It is known for its colourful patterns and bright colours. While it is commonly attributed to West Africa, Ankara has its roots in Indonesian batik. The Dutch traders and manufacturers created the Indonesian batik replicas using roller-printing technology. Initially targeted at the Indonesian market but failed, the fabric found a huge audience acceptance in West Africa.

Today, Ankara has become deeply rooted in the West African culture, forming a key part of the cultural identity, social status and unity. Not only has it constituted a staple for daily wardrobe wear but found its way into the global fashion scene as one of the top used fabrics for cross-country fashion. One of the top American female rappers, often regarded as the first lady of music, Beyoncé, has been seen rocking the Ankara fabric several times. This shows how Ankara has transitioned from being a traditional fashion accessory, to a global fashion sensation, with numerous designers displaying their design skills with it.
Among the skilfully crafted designs with Ankara fabric is the Mystic Collection from Sassy Muse. The brand, which is committed to changing the perception of Ankara being exclusive to West Africans and limited to traditional designs, has demonstrated how the bright colours and patterns of Ankara fabrics beautifully complement women of diverse backgrounds.
One of the top designs you should check out and include in your wardrobe is this beautiful piece from the brand. The shirt and trousers outfit are designed from a dark blue background Ankara with a leafy pattern. The outfit is a minimalistic design that offers the best comfort and elegance. The dress is designed with a natural shape silhouette, outlining your body shape while giving you top comfort. The blouse is a button-down shirt with a regular standard collar, making the shirt suitable for both casual and professional events. The bracelet sleeve— a three-quarter sleeve, is made into a puff shape with an elastic band at the base. The puffy sleeve design balances out the body proportion to give a more structured look while adding some level of fullness to the appearance. The shoulder region is adorned with pleated designs to add to the overall aesthetics of the wear. The pant which runs from the waist to the heel is designed into a straight silhouette, balancing out the overall piece.

As a whole, the outfit is a minimalistic design for the fashion-conscious woman who loves to express herself through her wear. You keep that boss-lady vibe while looking your best in a traditional fabric print. And no, you don’t have to worry about breathability. Ankara fabric is breathable, doubling up on the piece’s overall comfort.
Are you wondering what to pair the dress with? As you will want to look your best at either a casual or formal event, you can complement the outfit with footwear of your taste such as stilettos, kitten heels, or platform heels. Other fashion accessories are to be used to your taste.

Another piece of beautiful design from Sassy Muse is a Kimono jacket with a short gown. You can rock this queen-looking piece without having to break the bank or wonder how to balance out looking good and finding comfort. The Kimono jacket is a free-flowing jacket with an elbow-length sleeve. The Kimono, which is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, represents diverse aspects such as status and personal expression. The Kimono jacket retains these fashion elements while still blending with modern styles. So, rocking this kimono, masterfully crafted from Ankara fabric, is a perfect blend of cross-culture fashion— West African fabric and Japanese culture.

The inner gown on which the kimono is to be worn is made into a short gown. The gown is designed above the knee length. This brings more attention to your legs and creates a flattering silhouette. The gown skirt is pleated and designed with folds that create a flowing silhouette. This structure gives the gown a more graceful look, adding a dynamic element to the outfit. The sleeveless bodice is a fitted silhouette designed to outline your body.

Combining the kimono and the gown gives you a blend of elegance and sophistication. This piece as a whole allows for so much comfort and aesthetic appeal. The outfit is both versatile and functional as it can be fitted for different events. You can rock the gown alone, or you combine both to have a more graceful look for your events.
The gown, if worn alone, is ideal for casual outings or semi-formal events. While combining it with the kimono jacket allows for a more formal occasion. Whether casual or formal, you can rock this piece comfortably without losing out on turning all heads towards you. This beautiful design could be made to feature a bit lengthier inner gown to make the gown fit for more professional settings. While the outfit is versatile and fits several event settings, the lengthy kimono jacket restricts its use to some extent. It limits the overall functionality of the complete design. Making the kimono jacket a bit shorter would allow for increased functionality.

Overall, making a pathway for this piece into your wardrobe is a must for the contemporary woman who loves to illuminate events with her wear while radiating a high sense of femininity and personality. Still, wondering what fashion accessories to complement this enthralling piece with? Kitten heels and stilettos will give you the luxury feel and look you need when you wear this beautiful piece.

Another captivating piece in the Sassy Muse Mystic collection is an enchanting skirt and jacket that gives you the chic look you want. If you love showing off your midriff, this piece is a must-have. The jacket runs to the midriff, and it features flutter sleeves with wing-like designs. The overall sleeve design gives the jacket a royalty and luxurious feel. The jacket is made in a way that allows the wearer to showcase her femininity. The skirt runs through the waist to the lower end, looking more like a three-quarter but extends slightly longer. The skirt is also adorned with a pleated feature around the waist. While the skirt length is associated with sophistication, it could be a tricky one for petite individuals. It may cut off the leg line, making them appear shorter. A slightly shorter skirt might be a better choice to elongate the wearer’s figure.
Designing these beautiful pieces is no doubt a great display of creativity from Stella Chidinma Osuju, the designer behind Sassy Muse. Stella has consistently far exceeded all expectations by transforming the small vision into a top-rising fashion brand. Stella made Sassy a top fashion brand crafting African-inspired clothing for women of all races. Sassy continually seeks to change the perception that Ankara fabric is limited to traditional wear by crafting beautiful designs complementing women of diverse backgrounds.

Stella believes in evolving styles and concepts, showing her African heritage through her designs. Through Sassy Muse, Stella has experimented with cultural fusion designs that not only broaden the fashion horizon but also introduce fresh perspectives and unseen possibilities. The brand’s contribution to slow fashion is also noteworthy as it is committed to prioritising eco-friendly production practices and striving for zero waste. Without further ado, Sassy Muse has contributed to the evolution of Ankara fabric from being a fabric known for creating traditional wears and designs to a global and cross-culture textile.