Share FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinWhatsappTelegramEmail 152 “Fabric is a form of art; fabric is part of the art of your body,” said Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI) founder Simone Cipriani, who held a discussion this week for New York Textile Month at Parsons School of Design. In a small lecture center with an audience of approximately 60 people, Cipriani led an intimate seminar about EFI, his work experience in many African countries and how their artisans’ hand-weaving, dyeing and textile techniques have a place in today’s fashion industry. More Articles You Would Love A throwback that actually works; An 80’s fashion style that can be blended with a modern touch. Five Simple Tips For A Successful First Date Launched in 2009 by Cipriani, EFI brings together African artisans and designers as a development solution. African artisans improve their lives by producing luxury sustainable accessories, garments and footwear for today’s popular fashion designers. Together, both entities establish a more environmentally-friendly fashion industry. With its roots in Kenya, EFI today is also located in six other nations, including Burkina Faso and Mali, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti and West Bank. In these countries, local artisans are responsible for the initiative’s innovative designs, including traditional methods that highlight tribal heritage. Cipriani explained two unique processes that African artisans use: hand-weaving cotton and Bogolan dyeing. Traditional looms are used by African artisans in many nations, including Burkina Faso, to hand-weave cotton into beautiful fashion products. Woven fabric from this nation is often found in a tartan design. Hailing from Mali, Bogolan is an ancient dyeing method used by two local tribes. Mud is collected from river beds, seasoned for one year and then the dyer applies the earthy material to the fabric. When removed and washed, it leaves a beautiful black color behind. In Burkina Faso and Mali, EFI works with artisans from the capital of Burkina Faso Bobo and Ouagadougou. The initiative also established many textile collaborations over the years, including EFI x United Arrows, EFI x Vivienne Westwood and EFI Burkina Faso x Elijah Green. Each collection combines African artisans’ culture with high-fashion items, including handbags and trendy apparel. More partnerships are expected and Cipriani anticipates that Ethical Fashion Initiative will expand to other countries, including Brazil, India and Peru. Click Here to Visit our Fashion Boutique. [products ids=”67532, 67392, 57943, 37735, 37734, 67395, 62206, 12045″] Ghana Look Books ethical fashionethical fashion initiativefashioninitiative Share FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinWhatsappTelegramEmail Abigail Oluwakemi I'm a fashion stylist turned blogger, I hope you love my work. More For You #BeautyOfTheWeek: Proud Jamaican Influencer Anthena, Scoops Our BOTW of the Week With Her... Fashion Week Organizers from Across Africa Assemble in Ethiopia to Forge A Cohesive... Leading Ghanaian Menswear Brand ‘Kustom Looks’ Takes Over ‘All Africa Games 2023’ With... #OOTD: Berla Mundi Serves Haute Couture As She Shakes The Net With A... VIDEO: Arisar (Barbados) @ Accra Fashion Week 2023 VIDEO: Wig Wearing Black Mom Hospitalized With Horrific Skin Reaction & Illness After... A Detailed Insight Into Ethiopia’s TechStitched Fashion Program & The Participating Fashion Weeks... Cornrows With Cowry Shells: A Red Carpet Show Stopper & A Modern Twist... PICS: To Much Glamour; Check Out Bonang Matheba, Swanky & More At The... AFI Reschedules Cape Town Fashion Week For 2024 Leave a Comment Cancel ReplyYou must be logged in to post a comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.