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Akouma by Imane Ayissi

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Akouma by Imane Ayissi, Dress, 2020 (designed and made)

This dress is from Cameroonian designer Imane Ayissi’s collection, Akouma. Translating to ‘wealth’ in Ewondo, Ayissi used this collection to explore how ideas of wealth, luxury and preciousness can be communicated through clothing, investigating how the value of different materials changes across the world. Obom, Cameroonian bark cloth, was a key feature of the collection: ‘Africa is full of these textiles, little considered in the world today, but which are precious by the tradition in which they are part.’

The dress has a classic A-line silhouette with a short bodice and voluminous skirt. It is made from a white silk and hemp blend and the bodice is embellished with applique obom flowers.

Akouma by Imane Ayissi
Akouma by Imane Ayissi
Purchase funded by the American Friends of the V&A through the generosity of Diana Quasha
Museum number: T.2434-2021 – © Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2021

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