V&A
Printed Silk Cotton Ankara Ensemble with Glass Beads
2020s · 2020s · Nigerian
Designer
Lisa Folawiyo
Production
ready-to-wear
Material
printed silk and cotton with ankara cotton
Culture
Nigerian
Movement
Afrofuturism · Global Fashion · Dopamine Dressing
Influences
traditional ankara textiles · contemporary Western tailoring
A vibrant two-piece ensemble featuring a short-sleeved top with intricate golden yellow and black geometric patterns, paired with a light blue waistband or bra detail. The matching slim-fit trousers display bold orange and black circular motifs in traditional African print style. The top appears to have a relaxed, boxy silhouette with clean-finished seams, while the trousers follow contemporary Western tailoring with a fitted leg. Glass bead embellishments add textural interest to the ankara fabric. This piece represents contemporary African fashion design that bridges traditional textile patterns with modern Western garment construction, showcasing the global influence of African diaspora fashion in the 2020s dopamine dressing movement.
top/t-shirt/sweatshirtregular fitround neckhip length
Connected To
56%
Movement·Dopamine DressingTechnique·beadwork
SHAREDsame era · cross-culture
These two pieces reveal how the dopamine dressing movement translated across continents through the universal language of embellishment. The Italian top's geometric metal beadwork creates precise tribal-inspired borders that echo the same structural approach as the Nigerian ensemble's glass bead detailing, both using repetitive ornamental patterns to frame and define the garment's silhouette.
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