Vlisco, the Dutch brand behind many of the iconic wax prints that have come to define ‘African’ fabrics has stepped up its game in the last half decade.
With that many new competitors in the game (Veba Fabrics entered the market in 2015, and Woodin who did a rehaul of their marketing strategy in the same year,) Vlisco has had to upgrade it’s prints and patterns, creating new motifs that will appeal to modern African designers looking for a more global base on which to build their designs. They’ve recently released an editorial to showcase their first batch of Original designs for 2015 themed ‘Woven Wisdom’.
The palette for the new collection is vibrant, hues of red, marmite, blue and green and maroon make geometric tiling and pipes, floral motifs and computer generated wave patterns, cut into high waisted pants with reverse peplums, body con dresses and high collared blouses. This is a step away from their usual grandiose editorials with flowing trains and miles of ruching. We’re not sure what they’re going for, but what ever it is, it i2222s working.
