Men's Ensemble (2023)
Cultural heritage of mali
design Details
Man's Ensemble
Olubiyi Thomas
2023
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Man's ensemble
Class: Jacket and Pants
Medium: Wool, Viscose, and Cotton
Description: Bògòlanfini, often called mud cloth, is a traditional Malian textile made from handwoven cotton dyed with fermented mud and natural plant dyes. Its graphic patterns carry cultural meanings related to identity, protection, history, and social status, and the cloth has long been used for ceremonial garments and everyday wear in West Africa. Each motif is traditionally applied by hand and functions as a visual language, communicating personal narratives, community values, and ancestral knowledge passed down through generations.
Olubiyi Thomas
Olubiyi Thomas is a London-based independent fashion brand founded by Lagos-born, Glasgow-raised designer Olubiyi Thomas, who launched his eponymous label in 2015 and debuted his first collection in 2016. The brand is known for its artisanal, avant-garde approach, featuring elongated tailored silhouettes, layered draping and raw edges that reinterpret historical and cultural references in contemporary garments. It draws deeply on Thomas’s multicultural heritage and post-colonial themes, blending British tailoring traditions with African cultural history, and focuses on sustainably sourced textiles and handcrafted production in London. The label has shown at major fashion weeks and contributes to dialogues around identity and craftsmanship in modern fashion.