From Miami

Cool Art: Kubiat Nnamdie

Kubiat Nnamdie is an artist originally from Nigeria, currently living in Miami, who shows off his immense artistic talent through film, photography and sculpture. His work bridges his experiences in Nigeria and the US, and we hope to be seeing a lot more of Kubiat's work in the future. Make sure to check out his awesome "Heaven Can Wait" series over on his site. —Katie

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From Los Angeles

Della x Faarrow at Space 15 Twenty

Not doing anything this Friday, May 24th? Come hang at Space 15 Twenty with Della, DJ Amy Pham, and see a performance by Faarrow! This week is the last week that our mega cool Zamrock-inspired pop-up shop, BAZAAAAAR, will be open in Los Angeles, so don't miss out! Plus I suggest you check out the exclusive collaboration Urban Outfitters currently has with Della. There are some pretty beautiful pieces in the collection. Stop by from 7pm - 10pm! —Maddie

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From Elsewhere

Della x UO Interview: "Nii" Addotey

Selorm "Nii" Addotey, co-founder of Della, recently took the time to tell us what it's like to have the business located on his front lawn—and his dream superpower, of course.



Hi Nii! What is your role at Della?
I’m the co-founder, and I basically run everything on the Ghana side of Della. I check in on the ladies to make sure the production schedule is running smoothly. I fix machines when they break. Some days I cut fabric for the upcoming projects. Now that Rachael is here and we have more help, I don’t do much of the administrative stuff.

How did you get involved with Della?
I’ve been involved from the start. I met Tina [other co-founder] at a drinking bar in Hohoe four days before she was leaving back home, and we became fast friends. She had some bags made from a seamstress in town and told me she wanted to see how they would do in America. I knew the Ghanaian culture and everything she needed to keep it going, so I helped out from here. I have worked with Della ever since.

Since you’ve been with Della since the beginning, how have you seen it grow?
It started with me, Tina and one seamstress. We didn’t even own sewing machines. Now, we have a facility full of sewing machines and more than 18 employees. We are giving members of the community regular income, which is great. I never expected it to grow like this. For the fact that we’ve been in business for almost three years now, I think we are doing well. If we have done these last three years, we can do another three and then another. There is a bright future here.

What made you interested in the mission of Della?
Tina and I built a friendship before we built a business partnership. I liked Tina and her vision, so I wanted to make her ideas work. I see myself as an entrepreneur, and I like helping businesses grow.

What do you and your friends do when you hang out?
As entrepreneurs, we think about the future and ideas. I have a large porch, so my friends and I often sit through the night, listen to music and talk. Sometimes we talk politics or music. I also like going to the beach when I get the chance.



What kind of music do you listen to?
Reggae. I only listen to Reggae and Craig David, a British singer. My roommate played him all the time at polytechnic, so I started to like him.

What’s it like having Della in your front yard?
I had the intention of running my porridge company in the rooms next to my house, but those plans changed when we started Della. I was planning on using it for a business anyways, so it’s not too bad. I am always on call. Even when I am sleeping, I am only a few feet away from the work.

Do you and the ladies hang out together?
We had a Della party at Obama Gardens when we launched our line with Apple. We were the first to supply cases to Apple from Sub-Sahara Africa, so we had a lot to celebrate. I drank and danced with the ladies. We got cake. After working hard for weeks on the order, we were able to hang out as friends and celebrate together.

Three words to describe yourself.
Brave. Serious. Brilliant.

Where do you see Della in five years?
In three years, we are already international. So that means in five years, the sky is the limit. I’d like a new production center with more workers. We could maybe have more than 100 workers. I’d like to have a vocational school with accreditation, so we can not only employ already certified seamstresses, but give interested people training and then give them employment. I don’t know what the future holds, but it is exciting.



If you were an animal, what would you be?
A lion, king of the forest!

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
It would be cool if I could snap my fingers and marijuana would appear any time I wanted. And it could disappear, too.

Do you have any secret skills?
I cook. I don’t do it often, but when I do, it’s good. I’m good at every local food, especially ground nut soup.

What do you want people know about Ghana?
In Africa, Ghana is a gateway to Africa. Since history, Ghana has set the pace as a leader and peaceful country to live in.

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From Elsewhere

Bazaaaaar Pop-Up: Photoshoot

It's the last week to shop BAZAAAAAAR, our zamrock inspired L.A. and NYC based pop-ups that have limited-edition and custom made apparel, housewares and art. The L.A. BAZAAAAAAR closes on Monday, May 27 and NYC closes on June 2, so if there's something you've got your eye on, you'll want to get out there soon! All outfits in these photos were shot with clothing and accessories from the pop-up, including brands Osei Duro, Fashion Rising, Bombe Surprise, Makono, Tallow, African Lookbook, and a dress from our very own Marissa Maximo. These pieces are available only in our pop-up shops, so you don't want to miss this!

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From San Francisco

Nail Art with Floss Gloss: Round One

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From Elsewhere

Della x UO Interview: Esenam Nyahe

Esenam was one of Della's first employees, and over the last three years has worked her way up to head seamstress. She lets us know what it's really like working with the other women on the Della team (hint: lots of fun).



Where did you work before Della?
I was a nanny. I loved the kids, but I wanted to start working as a seamstress, so I started looking and found Della when a friend told me about them. Della is my first actual sewing job, and I really enjoy it.

What is your role now?
I was one of the first to be at Della, so I am a leader. My teammates come to me when they need jobs to do and I assign them different tasks, like sewing parts of a bag or cutting more fabric.

What’s it like working with the other women on the team? Are you all close?
It’s cool. Everybody is friendly! We laugh and talk to each other a lot. We laugh when someone makes a mistake. When we were doing the moto jackets, someone sewed the sleeve upside down so the armpit was facing the wrong way. We laughed and teased her about it. We always laugh. Everybody is close.

Do you have any secret talents, or is there anything in particular you do to make people laugh?
Acting! I love it. I like to fool around and have fun. Once I was acting in a scene where I had a sick daughter and the husband couldn’t afford the hospital bills. I had to act really, really mad. It was fun because I didn’t know I could act to that extent.

What kind of music do you listen to?
Hip-hop. I like 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Rhianna and Beyonce. My siblings usually bring new music to our house, so I am always discovering new music from them.



What is a traditional Ghanaian style of dress?
We like to wear traditional clothing called a slit and kabba to church. The slit is a floor length skirt and the kabba is a top made in a matching fabric. You don’t buy slit and kabba in the store; they are custom-made for each person. I have so many of them I can’t count! On normal days, I prefer to wear simple clothes, like jeans and a t-shirt.

What’s a normal, jeans-and-a-t-shirt day like for you in Hohoe?
I like to stay in the house. I watch movies a lot! I can spend the whole day watching movies! I like American movies and television, like The Vampire Diaries and Twilight, but I don’t let my children watch those with me. We watch cartoons together, like Barbie.

The Vampire Diaries is definitely worth watching all day. What are your children like?
When I was seven months pregnant, my sister unexpectedly passed away during her son’s birth. With the help of my mother, we adopted him. Chris, my son, and Na, my daughter, are now five. My mom stays at the house watching the kids while I’m at work. As a single mother in Ghana, it is very difficult. You get judged. If you have a child out of wedlock, people talk about you. I don’t care what people think. We are a happy and healthy family, and that is all that matters.

Totally agree. Aside from providing for your family, what are your goals for the future?
I want to open an orphanage. When I see children on the streets every day, I feel bad for them. They are in the hot sun and have to sell things just to get by. There are so many orphanages that say they are first class, but they are not. Everyone has to share things from toys to even beds. Some babies even sleep in chairs. I want every child to be comfortable. I want them to have time for their books so that they can prepare for their future. I don’t want them to feel that if their parents were alive, things would be different.

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From London

(Photos via Stephanie Sian Smith)

Bazaaaaar Pop-Up Interview: Bombe Surprise

Bombe Surprise is a London-based fashion label run by Nina Ribena, and it is currently featured at our Bazaaaaar store pop-ups. We recently spoke to Nina about the story behind her brand.



Can you give our readers a little background on yourself?
I’m Nina, and I’m from London and still live here. I did a film degree at the London College of Communication but hated it so I decided to teach myself how to sew and here I am, five years later!

Where does the name “Bombe Surprise” come from?
I spent ages trying to think of a name for my label but everything I was coming up with didn’t really work. My friend used to run a club night called Bombe Surprise and as soon as I heard the name it just made sense. I think Bombe Surprise is actually a French dessert but I take it to mean a collection of different types of weird and wonderful ideas!

How long have you been designing clothes?
I made my first outfit for myself five years ago. It was a blue catsuit with red strawberries on it. People liked what I was doing so I started a label for one-pieces called We Are All in One. As I started to get better at designing and making clothes I ventured into the world of separates and that’s when I started Bombe Surprise.



Your line can be found on Etsy. How do you think Etsy has changed fashion?
It has definitely made my designs a lot more internationally accessible. Most of my orders are from customers in the U.S. If you don’t look at fashion blogs or have your designs stocked in other shops, then I’m not sure how people would find my label without the help of Etsy!

What made you decide to start using the patterns that you do? Where did they originate? Are they traditional African patterns?
I used to work solely with jersey and stretch materials and it’s quite hard to find good patterns in those fabrics. When I found the wax fabric that I use now, I jumped on it straight away because it’s what I’d always been looking for! When I decided I wanted to make a whole collection out of it I looked into the history of it and found that the prints actually originated in Indonesia. They weren’t very popular there and were copied and imported by mostly Dutch tradesmen and shipped over to their posts in Africa where they really took off and became part of, and widely associated with, African fashion and culture. I wanted to connect that to the multicultural identity of my own background, and to how London is this great big melting pot of different cultures. There’s an artist called Yinka Shonibare that does a lot of work around the same subject.

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From Elsewhere

Della x UO Interview: Rachael Curtin

Rachael Curtin is the production manager at Della, and we recently spoke to her about how she came to work at Della, her favorite places in Ghana, and her newfound tolerance for spicy food.

Where did you go to school? What was your major?
I went to the University of Notre Dame. I majored in French and minored in European Studies. Naturally I never imagined I would be working at a place like Della, though I never knew anything like Della existed. Now I can safely say we were meant to be.

How did dorm and college life prepare you for living in Ghana?
When deadlines come, it’s like finals week. Sometimes it lasts quite a bit longer than your average end of semester freak out, though we manage it!

How did you become part of the Della team?
I first heard about Della while teaching English on an island east of Madagascar. My roommate heard about the job from a manager who was about to leave Della. Knowing my hobbies and interests, she recommended I apply for the position. I did and haven’t looked back.

What is your favorite Della product?
Definitely the bralette. I love that every square inch of the piece was touched by at least 60 hands. They were a labor of love, from the actual making of the batik cloth and the cutting, pinning, and sewing to the adjusters, buttons and button holes. To wear one is an absolute treat. Although I wear it here with a knee-length high-waisted white skirt, I can’t wait to go back to the US and wear it with some high-waisted jean shorts. Those don’t fly here because in Ghana we do not show thigh!



What’s your favorite place in Ghana?
Ghana is scorching hot, so I love to be near the ocean. There is a beautiful area where Lake Volta meets the sea and you need a boat to go anywhere. On a recent trip, a friend and I had to put his motorcycle in a canoe to get to our hotel called Meet Me There. It was well worth the hassle, with a diving platform off the restaurant into a lagoon, a five dollar a night beach hut and a wild ocean front, free of tourists.

What’s a typical day like for you in Hohoe?
A typical day involves a lot of walking/running/biking around town, various Della-related people coming to me to tell me anything from we lost a screw to there’s a goat in the office, and I brief the women on the day’s expectations after greeting them all and answer any questions they might have about anything.

What’s your favorite Ghanaian dish?
When I came, my diet consisted of mangos, popcorn, random sautéed vegetables and “red red”, which is a mixture of black-eyed peas, cabbage, ground up cassava, palm nut oil and fried plantains. Everything I ate was free of fish and not spicy at all. Now, I go out to restaurants with a plethora of international food choices and end up ordering something Ghanaian off of the menu. I order my salads with sardines now, and my rice with extra spicy sauce. I find that I enjoy the food more and more with time, although I do wish I had a bag of Cheetos and some Greek yogurt right now…

Would you recommend traveling and working abroad?
Certainly. I’ve traveled and worked abroad in three different countries, and each one has shaped me in different ways. They were perfect stepping stones to Ghana, and I only hope there will be another one. I’m generally a pretty easy-going person, and it might be because of that. Ghana has definitely presented a fair share of challenges, but I’ve never felt that I couldn’t tackle them head-on. Maybe it’s because I know climbing to the summit of Piton des Neiges was a lot more difficult?

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From Elsewhere

Della x UO Interview: Ruby Gbassakpo

Ruby Gbassakpo, a head seamstress at Della, spoke to us about what it's like living in Ghana, her plans to open her own sewing shop, and her favorite American music (Celine Dion!).



Where did you work before Della and how did you become part of the team?
I was a cleaning lady at the hospital. I didn’t like it because I wasn’t using any of the skills I learned from my sewing apprentice. Esenam’s [another seamstress] mom worked at the hospital, and we became fast friends. When Esenam found out I had my sewing certificate, she told me about Della. I quit my job at the hospital and started working at Della soon after. My first day, I worked on small tasks, like making piping and fixing labels. I have worked here for two and a half years now, and I am considered a leader among the ladies. I am very happy here.

What do you and the ladies talk about during the work day?
Sometimes we discuss about our boyfriends and we laugh at them. We like to make fun of each other. When someone sews a Della label on backwards, we tease them. We also like to sing gospel songs together while we sew.

What do you like to do for fun?
I listen to American music like R. Kelly, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. I like watching Ghanaian and Nigerian TV and films. My favorite American movie is Romeo and Juliet. I read everything. My boyfriend and I like to go out to eat together at restaurants. I go to church every Sunday, and I am always singing and dancing there.

Do you have any beauty secrets?
It takes me two minutes to get ready in the morning because of my hair is in braids. Every month I get paid, I change my hairstyle. I always wear skirts and tops. I get my toenails painted every week at my friend’s salon.

Do you have any children?
Carine, my daughter, is 9 and a half years old. I have tried to teach her to sew before, but she doesn’t like it. She wants to be a doctor.

Where did you learn your craft? How long have you been sewing?
I started my sewing apprenticeship with a madam seven years ago, and it took me three years to complete.



Do you ever wear your own creations?
I sew my own dresses. I don’t have a sewing machine at my own house, so I haven’t made as much for myself as I’d like.

What is your favorite Della product?
I like making the laptop cases. We were making them the first day I came here, and it still remains my favorite thing to make.

Do you have a secret talent?
I am a singer. I sing gospel songs at work while I am sewing. I also sing at church in a choir.

Do you cook? What’s your specialty?
I cook for me and my daughter when I have the time. My favorite food to make is banku with okra and green leaf soup. I enjoy going to the market and buying the ingredients, sometimes off of people’s heads. My daughter and I try to eat together every evening.

What do you want people to know about Ghana?
We have a lot of things here. We have freedom and self-expression. Everyone is unique. The waterfalls are a miracle and they are worth it to come and see.

What are your goals for the future?
I’d like to open my own sewing shop in Hohoe. I also want my daughter to go to college and get a good education.

Shop Della x UO

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From New York

(Photo credit: David Perez)

NYC Bazaaaaar Pop-Up Opening

Last night was the opening night of our NYC Bazaaaaar Pop-Up store, and to celebrate, we had an opening party, complete with an appearance by Tina Tangalakis from Della, with Wynn from Twin Shadow DJing. Plenty of people turned out to check out the collection, which features pieces from Osei Duro, Fashion Rising, African Lookbook, Obj and Totem, and more. If you missed the party, don't worry! The pop-up shop will be running at our 5th Ave. store until June 2nd, which leaves you plenty of time for browsing. —Katie

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From Los Angeles

Osei-Duro x Space 15 Twenty Present: Megan Whitmarsh at the Bazaaaaar Pop-Up Shop

If you're in L.A. tonight, be sure to stop by the Bazaaaar pop-up at Space 15 Twenty (1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd.) for a special evening with clothing line Osei Duro and artist Megan Whitmarsh! Come by from 7-10pm to take part in a live fashion meets art show, with live drawing! The audience is highly encouraged to participate! DJ Al Dente and DJ Last Looks will also be there in order for you to get your groove on. RSVP on Facebook! - Maddie

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From Elsewhere

(Photo credit: Colin Leaman; Model: Allie Teilz)

Bazaaaaar Pop-Up Interview: Osei Duro

Maryanne Mathias and Molly Keogh are the owners of Osei Duro, an ethical fashion line that is run out of Ghana. We talked to them about how they got their start, where they source their materials from, and how they'd like to expand their line for the future.



How did you guys meet and what made you decide to start Osei Duro?
MM: We met in high school—we both had an interest in fashion and textiles and human expression through clothing, but we lost touch. I had been doing design at a small company in Montreal and I decided to travel around the world and research different textiles. I ended up doing capsule collections in different countries and saw an opportunity to do something on a larger scale. Molly and I met back up at our high school reunion and that’s when I asked if she would be interested in working with me. It grew from there.

Was starting an ethical fashion line something you initially set out to do?
MK: We were both interested in that, yeah. We were interested in the politics of production and transparency and doing something that we ultimately felt good about. And then figuring out what that means has been a process as the line develops.

Was there any specific reason that made you guys decide to work out of Ghana?
MK: There was a list of reasons. Maryann had gone to a bunch of different countries that produced their own traditional textiles and Ghana had other components that made it an easier place to start. There was also always the idea that our business could expand into other nearby countries.



What in Ghana inspires you for your clothing?
MK: People in Ghana dress really fearlessly. Things that North Americans tend to shy away from are really normal there, like lots of color, lots of print, and lots of dramatic shapes. That kind of expression and fearlessness is exciting for us to be around.
MM: They also have a lot of unique fabrics which is one of the main things that I love, and they also have a lot of traditional textile techniques, like batiking, which we’re really attracted to.

What are some of the different techniques you use to create your materials? Is there anything native to Ghana?
MK: Weaving. There’s a lot of hand weaving. Besides the batik [for dyeing], which just means wax, there’s other dye techniques. We don’t really do much, if any, tie-dye, but there are other methods that are similar to Japanese shibori, like stitching the fabric and then dyeing it. There’s also marbling. There are so many different things.
MM: We also do hand crochet. A lot of hand crochet.



Do you guys travel to many other places besides Africa to gather inspiration?
MK: Not as much as we’d like to. Maryann is living in Vancouver and she’ll make little trips within BC, and I’ll make trips within southern California where I live. We did travel around West Africa, though.

And did you pick up any other materials there?
MK: Yeah, we’ve bought fabric in all of the countries that we’ve been to around Ghana. We were sourcing a certain handwoven fabric from Togo for a while that we couldn’t find anywhere else.
MM: We're planning on expanding our countries; potentially production, but also textiles.



Can you tell us about some of the people you employ and how you go about finding people to work for you?
MK: The way we found people would be the same way you find people here, mostly by word of mouth. There’s nothing like Craigslist there, so it’s more a matter of talking to people, meeting people, and spending time with them and getting to know them. We work with a small factory that’s owned 2nd generation by a Ghanaian woman – she inherited it from her mother. We work with her, as well as all the people that work there for her. On the smaller scale, we work with individual tailors and seamstresses in our neighborhood. We work really directly with them and they’ll do smaller scale productions for us.

When we do large crochet productions, there’s a woman who organizes all of the crochet and that stays really cottage industry. Everyone who does that does it on a real informal level, so she organized all of these women out of their homes to do the crochet.



Does it take a long time to do all of this by hand?
MK: We try and give ourselves plenty of time. With dyeing we try to give enough time so that it can really be a process with the dyer. We’ll give her an idea, she’ll give us a result, we’ll maybe change something, maybe the result will be different than we thought but we like it better—it’s a real back and forth.

What are you guys excited to see with the pop-up?
MM: There’s another designer involved called Della—she works out of the Volta region in Ghana. I met a couple of her interns on a trip last summer which is how I heard about her, so it’s exciting to be able to meet other designers who are doing similar things.

Do you have any big projects lined up for the future?
MM: We’re in the process of designing 8 new bags and we’re working on another collaboration with the artist Megan Whitmarsh to design the prints. Those will be ready to launch in a few months.
MK: We’re also starting to do research about adding more traditional textiles from more countries into our production capacity which is really exciting.



Any particular textiles in mind so far?
MM: We’re criticized for our fall collections as being too summery because we use a lot of light fabrics and bright colors that are associated with summer in North America, so we’re thinking about using some South American wool to balance out our fall collections.

What’s one thing you want people to take away from your brand?
MK: I feel like it sounds clichéd, and I hesitate to even say it because it feels so clichéd, but clothing production can be transparent and still be exciting. The design doesn’t have to be compromised for the clothing to be thoughtfully made.

Osei Duro

Megan Whitmarsh

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From Philadelphia

Trend: Printed Shoes

Prints are no longer just for your body, pals. This summer, you can wear prints by way of your shoes too.  All of the best styles of shoes, flatforms, oxfords, and sneakers come in geo-prints, polka dots, tropical prints, etc etc. Literally so many options for your feet. No excuse for your outfit to be boring ever again! Vans, Converse, and Miista have some of the many brands that have the right idea. Its time to let your feet do the talking. - Maddie


Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Mixed Print High-Top Sneaker


Vans Van Doren Leopard Authentic Sneaker


Study Footwear Polka Dot Drop Sneaker


Dr. Martens Castel 8-Eye Tie-Dye Boot


Deena & Ozzy Triple-Buckle Printed Stud Flatform


Fred Perry Foxx Paisley Sneaker

Shop shoes for girls and guys.

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From New York

Patterns by Bobby Doherty

Bobby Doherty has a talent for pattern. In his editorial work for the New York Times Magazine, the Brooklyn-based photographer finds the geometric connections between organic and man-made objects most of us miss. Saturated colors and tightly cropped points of view aid the sense of infinite repetition that make Doherty's photos, and the phenomena of pattern in general so intriguing. —Angelo

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From New York

Bazaaaaar Pop-Up Interviews: Kilo Kish

Hi Kilo! Introduce yourself! 
I'm Kilo Kish, 22-years-old, from Orlando, FL but living in Brooklyn, NY.

You're a jack of many trades. Can you list all of the things that you "are?"
A creative thinker, singer, songwriter, candle lover, violet-candy obsessor.

Some of your music reminds me of slam poetry put to music. What type of genre do you feel your music fits into?
None. Really I just make what I can and leave the rest of interpretation to everyone else.



Who are some of the people you've worked with on your K+ Mixtape? Who is someone you would love to collaborate it in the future?
Childish Gambino, Flatbush Zombies, SBTRKT, The Internet, Earl Sweatshirt. I'd like to collaborate with Kanye West.

What have been the most surreal moments of your career so far?
Traveling overseas and being in magazines.

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From New York

Urban Outfitters Presents BAZAAAAAR: NYC Opening Party

Don't worry New York, we didn't forget about you! We'll be setting up our second BAZAAAAAR pop-up shop at our 5th Avenue store (521 5th Ave. at 43rd) on May 9 with an opening party from 6-9 PM.  Shop the Zamrock-inspired shop and art show—featuring limited edition pieces and collections by brands like Della, Fashion Rising, African Lookbook, Osei Duro and more—while listening to a DJ set by the lovely Wynne of Twin Shadow. RSVP Here!

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From Philadelphia

(Photo credit: Svenja Trierscheid)

Bazaaaar Pop-Up Interview: Buki Akib

Buki Akib is a Lagosian menswear designer, and we recently caught up with her to talk about style in Lagos, her favorite materials to knit, and what she's most excited to see at our Bazaaaar pop-up.



Hi Buki! Can you give our readers a little background on yourself?
I was born in Lagos, Nigeria. I grew up and studied in London. I studied fashion at Central Saint Martins in London, and I am currently living between Lagos and London.

Did you grow up knowing that you wanted to go into fashion design?
No, I always knew I was going to be an artist, which I feel I am. Fashion is just another medium I use to express my art.



How did you get your start as a designer?
I first enrolled in an illustration class at Central Saint Martins and a tutor advised me to try the fashion course, which I did, and it was there that I discovered knitting. It was a love and hate relationship, but I felt very connected to creating a fabric from just a ball of yarn. I was also assistant stylist during my studies at CSM. I really loved working on editorial shoots - they're a great space to be super creative.

What is the fashion like in your hometown of Lagos?
I have always said growing up in the city was an introduction to fashion. Lagosians take pride in what they wear. Our traditional clothes have such history and beauty.



Can you tell us a little bit about the clothing?
The Lagosian attire for Yoruba men (the southern tribe), where I'm from, usually consists of the Buba which is a box shaped shirt made out of cotton that will either hit shy of his hips or hang long to his knees; Sokoto, which are trousers that are usually quiet loose; and Agabada (this is the master piece): It's an oversized, flowing robe with wide arms and beautiful embroidery around the neck and chest area. This goes on top of the Buba shirt. All my collections are always inspired by the these simple silhouettes, textures and colors.

What are some of the techniques you use in your designs?
I work on the knitting machine and hand knit. I love mixing different colors of yarns to create luxurious fabrics. I have a technique where I use a contrasting type of yarn to apply on to the fabric I am knitting on the machine. (You need to really see it!) It's laborious but it looks so beautiful.



Are the patterns you work into your clothing traditional Nigerian prints? What about the materials you use?
Yes, it's called aso-oke. It's a hand-woven fabric that is woven on a small loom. The fabric is made out of cotton, silk and sometimes lurex.

Do you work closely with people in Nigeria to create your fabrics and clothing?
I work very closely with really talented weavers in Lagos. We try to develop and recreate this ancient technique.

What are some of your favorite materials to work with?
I love working with all materials, from tassels to waxed cords to lurex yarns. Give me anything and I will knit it.

What's been the most unique material you've knitted something out of?
For my AFEFE collection I knitted a wire shirt and mixed it with different color cotton yarns. It looks magnetic in the light.


BUKI AKIB AFEFE Teaser 2013 from BUKI AKIB on Vimeo.

Your clothing has been featured in numerous fashion shoots. Have you gotten to travel anywhere out of the ordinary because of that?
Last year I was part of an exhibition in Frankfurt and had a chance to drive down to Baden-Baden (south of Germany). The scenery there was just breathtaking.

What was it like there?
Baden-Baden scenery is beautiful because it's located in the northern foothills of the Black Forest so all you see is hills upon hills. We had driven onto this residential area upon a hill (we were lost) and that's where I saw the view. Very peaceful to look at, especially when you have a busy mind.

What's one thing you want people to think when they see your line?
Inspired.

What are you excited to see with the pop-up?
Unfortunately I can't be physically there, but just seeing all the artists' work is exciting. Of course the big treats are Theophilus London and Jagari Chanda.



Buki Akib

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From Philadelphia

Wild Profile: Marissa Maximo, Meaningful Intentions

Get to know Marissa Maximo, UO's Director of Brand Relations and Special Projects and the curator behind our BAZAAAAAR pop-up shop, hitting both coasts: L.A. this Friday and NYC on May 9. In an interview with The Wild Magazine, Teena Kang speaks with Marissa about her wild side, her hopes of love and happiness and what will make her crack up laughing. Read the interview here and make sure to check out our street bazaar-inspired pop-ups if you're in the neighborhood! (via WILD) —Ally

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From Philadelphia

Our Summer Playlist: Psychedelic Heat

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From Elsewhere

Della x UO

We are stoked to announce that the Della x UO collaboration is finally available online! Della, a woman-run fashion line founded by Tina Tangalakis, is run out of Ghana and focuses on providing socially-responsible wares, as well as steady employment for Ghanaian women. Della will also be a part of our Bazaaaaar Pop-Up which opens later this week at Space 15 Twenty.

Shop Della x UO

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