S\u00e9bastien Boko (Benin) and the \u201cMari Capable\u201d motif:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe multidisciplinary artist from Benin created the work *The World in Motion*<\/em>, an ethereal sculpture made of painted stainless steel. Inspired by the regalia of the Egungun mask brotherhood and the traditional wrap worn by his mother and aunts in Cotonou, the piece celebrates perpetual motion and intergenerational transmission. <\/p>\n![\"Vlisco_Artist-Collaborations_Sebastien-Boko\"](\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Vlisco_Artist-Collaborations_Sebastien-Boko_1920x1080.00_00_43_06.Still014-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Atisso Goha (Togo) and the \u201cMama Benz\u201d motif:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nAs a tribute to the legendary Togolese women merchants who built the economic power of the textile industry in Lom\u00e9, the sculptor created Mian\u00f4 N\u2019D\u00f4kosu<\/em> (\u201cOur Mother Sun\u201d in the Ewe language). Crafted from salvaged auto parts and body panels, the sculpture portrays a powerful image of female resilience. <\/p>\n![\"Vlisco_Artist-Collaborations_Atisso-Goha\"](\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Vlisco_Artist-Collaborations_Atisso-Goha_1920x1080.00_00_46_03.Still012-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Ayobami Ogungbe (Nigeria) and the \u201cFertility\u201d motif:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe Nigerian visual artist combines studio photography, collage, and hand-weaving techniques to create a portrait of a mother and her daughter. The interweaving of photo paper and fabric echoes her & Co.<\/em> series and illustrates how family memory is passed down like a living textile. <\/p>\n![\"Ayobami](\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/FCP-Creativite-et-succes-BLOG-3-1024x683.png\")
<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Yaw Owusu (Ghana) and the \u201cLe Robinet\u201d motif:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe Ghanaian visual artist created a monumental sculpture using thousands of small coins (Ghanaian pesewas). By reinterpreting this motif\u2014which symbolizes abundance and the flow of money (\u201cMoney Tap\u201d)\u2014he explores the history of trade, the volatility of currencies, and the true value of artisanal work. <\/p>\n
![\"Vlisco_Artist-Collaborations_Yaw-Owusu\"](\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5-1024x683.png\" "\\"Vlisco_Artist-Collaborations_Yaw-Owusu\\"")
<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Jean Servais Somian (Ivory Coast) and the \u201cFallen Tree\u201d motif:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nRenowned for his sustainable woodworking, the Ivorian designer crafted *Standing Tree, Broken Tree*<\/em> from coconut wood and bronze spheres. The work visually interprets the motif of the felled tree to celebrate nature\u2019s endless cycles of regeneration and fertility. <\/p>\n![\"Jean](\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2-1024x683.png\")
<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Prisca Tankwey (DRC) and the \u201cMolokai Village\u201d pattern:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe artist from Kinshasa drew inspiration from Papa Wemba\u2019s tribute to the famous Kinshasa neighborhood to create *Kaokoko Korobo<\/em>*. Created as a stained-glass light installation made from recycled colored plastics and fabric scraps, the work explores the dynamics of belonging, power, and the sacred in postcolonial societies. <\/p>\n![\"Prisca](\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/4-1024x683.png\")
<\/p>\n
Why Printed Textiles Remain a Vehicle for Cultural Reappropriation<\/h2>\n
This institutional collaboration highlights a central phenomenon in Africa\u2019s fashion and art ecosystem: the transformation of the industrial object into intangible cultural heritage. While the production of wax fabric originated outside the continent, it is the creativity of African societies that has breathed life into it, giving it its commercial value and political significance. <\/p>\n
By incorporating these six original designs into its permanent heritage collection\u2014intended for future international exhibitions\u2014Vlisco formalizes the transition of everyday clothing to the status of a museum-quality work of art.<\/p>\n
Available in the brand’s network of stores and online, these reissued prints serve as a reminder that textiles remain one of the most vibrant mediums for documenting the social, economic, and artistic history of the African continent.<\/p>\n
Cover photo: Ayobami Ogungbe<\/p>\n
\nRead also<\/p>\n
\n- Prospects for the African diaspora art market in 2026<\/a><\/li>\n
- Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report 2026, the global analysis that inspires the African art market<\/a><\/li>\n
- Marie-C\u00e9cile Zinsou, art historian and founder of the Ouidah Museum of Contemporary Art<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
To mark its 180th anniversary, the textile house Vlisco is unveiling a major artistic collaboration with six leading figures in contemporary African design. From Cotonou to Kinshasa, printed fabric transcends mere clothing to become the foundation for sculptural, visual, and commemorative works. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15094,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[137],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15122"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15122\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15171,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15122\/revisions\/15171"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15094"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/p>\n
- \n
- \n
Atisso Goha (Togo) and the \u201cMama Benz\u201d motif:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As a tribute to the legendary Togolese women merchants who built the economic power of the textile industry in Lom\u00e9, the sculptor created Mian\u00f4 N\u2019D\u00f4kosu<\/em> (\u201cOur Mother Sun\u201d in the Ewe language). Crafted from salvaged auto parts and body panels, the sculpture portrays a powerful image of female resilience. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n- \n
- \n
Ayobami Ogungbe (Nigeria) and the \u201cFertility\u201d motif:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The Nigerian visual artist combines studio photography, collage, and hand-weaving techniques to create a portrait of a mother and her daughter. The interweaving of photo paper and fabric echoes her & Co.<\/em> series and illustrates how family memory is passed down like a living textile. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n- \n
- \n
Yaw Owusu (Ghana) and the \u201cLe Robinet\u201d motif:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The Ghanaian visual artist created a monumental sculpture using thousands of small coins (Ghanaian pesewas). By reinterpreting this motif\u2014which symbolizes abundance and the flow of money (\u201cMoney Tap\u201d)\u2014he explores the history of trade, the volatility of currencies, and the true value of artisanal work. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n- \n
- \n
Jean Servais Somian (Ivory Coast) and the \u201cFallen Tree\u201d motif:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Renowned for his sustainable woodworking, the Ivorian designer crafted *Standing Tree, Broken Tree*<\/em> from coconut wood and bronze spheres. The work visually interprets the motif of the felled tree to celebrate nature\u2019s endless cycles of regeneration and fertility. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n- \n
- \n
Prisca Tankwey (DRC) and the \u201cMolokai Village\u201d pattern:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The artist from Kinshasa drew inspiration from Papa Wemba\u2019s tribute to the famous Kinshasa neighborhood to create *Kaokoko Korobo<\/em>*. Created as a stained-glass light installation made from recycled colored plastics and fabric scraps, the work explores the dynamics of belonging, power, and the sacred in postcolonial societies. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\nWhy Printed Textiles Remain a Vehicle for Cultural Reappropriation<\/h2>\n
This institutional collaboration highlights a central phenomenon in Africa\u2019s fashion and art ecosystem: the transformation of the industrial object into intangible cultural heritage. While the production of wax fabric originated outside the continent, it is the creativity of African societies that has breathed life into it, giving it its commercial value and political significance. <\/p>\n
By incorporating these six original designs into its permanent heritage collection\u2014intended for future international exhibitions\u2014Vlisco formalizes the transition of everyday clothing to the status of a museum-quality work of art.<\/p>\n
Available in the brand’s network of stores and online, these reissued prints serve as a reminder that textiles remain one of the most vibrant mediums for documenting the social, economic, and artistic history of the African continent.<\/p>\n
Cover photo: Ayobami Ogungbe<\/p>\n
\nRead also<\/p>\n
- \n
- Prospects for the African diaspora art market in 2026<\/a><\/li>\n
- Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report 2026, the global analysis that inspires the African art market<\/a><\/li>\n
- Marie-C\u00e9cile Zinsou, art historian and founder of the Ouidah Museum of Contemporary Art<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
To mark its 180th anniversary, the textile house Vlisco is unveiling a major artistic collaboration with six leading figures in contemporary African design. From Cotonou to Kinshasa, printed fabric transcends mere clothing to become the foundation for sculptural, visual, and commemorative works. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15094,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[137],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15122"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15122\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15171,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15122\/revisions\/15171"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15094"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report 2026, the global analysis that inspires the African art market<\/a><\/li>\n
- Prospects for the African diaspora art market in 2026<\/a><\/li>\n
- \n
- \n
- \n
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