Royalty in street wears

How Aso Òkè and Àdìre is bringing royalty to the streets

There is a global appeal which cannot be denied. African Street wear, outstanding on its own, has been fitted into this contemporary style to create uniquely elegant masterpieces. This does not only add colour daringly but also patterns, sometimes telling a story, to the fast urban spots of the world that may be losing their intensity in spite of their speed. Beyond identity or pride, all peoples of the world deserves some colours and patterns and spirit. Africa, after all, was where it all began many hundred thousand years ago, when the first fire was made from stones. Now that our dwellings towers skyward and our toys darting beyond the firmament, what better pat on the back than adorning ourselves with a celebratory fashion?

Celebrate, yes. For achieving freedom. Let’s take a look from the world fashion capital; Paris.

When the French bourgeoisies repented of their ostentatious dress sense in the late 18th Century to the early 19th, they did not do it out of pertinence but survival. The French revolution of 1789 had been brutal on aristocrats and all appearances of time-honored power gave way for utility as somber colours became more prevalent in clothing. Elaborate ornamentation got replaced with natural fibers like wool and cotton instead of silk. Restrictive styles of the ancient order were dumped for business ready and progressively for street smart wears.

Africans are prominent among the few who haven’t revolted against royalty. Powers with roots stemming from many centuries, sometimes millennial, have retained its spiritual authority, and splendor. This is emphasized in Yoruba royal fashion through intricate beaded crowns and veils, rich textiles like Aso Òkè and Àdìre, and regal garments such as the flowing Agbada robe, buba, and sokoto trousers. For Africans the story of fashion is the reverse of the French. While the streets of Paris gave its royal the dress of the common man, the common man in Africa took the style of their kings.

Sustainability as the turf of Street Wear

As the high fashion brands of Italy, London, and Paris rose, so did the focus on sustainability, inclusivity, and personalized style. Styles which used to be handed down from top established channels became increasingly supplemented with more diverse and expressive models which sometimes find its way to the high streets of world capitals. As technology shrink the world further, international styles rapidly crossed borders. Just as American styles became the backdrop of popular fashion; it did not fail to democratize, as designers from diverse backgrounds continue to find ways to influence global style. Youths of the 1970s and ‘80s who lived in big cities found more expression and freedom in new dress sense that was comfortable and bold. Influenced by the Hip Hop culture, they defined beauty in ways that are less stiff. And it truly was beautiful. Brands began to create dresses to fit new ideas. Today, environmental impact of fashion has been included in the conversation and many brands are trying to adopt eco-friendly practices.

Aso Oke street wear — Aso Òkè in causal style

Royalty in the street

Who’s to watch over the sustenance of ecology but kings! Aso Òkè and Àdìre, descended from Yoruba royalty can be eco-friendly being traditional handcrafted textiles that often use natural materials and traditional, low-impact techniques. Adire is not only handcrafted from natural fabrics but also can be produced using plant-based and other natural dyes. Aso Òkè, just like Àdìre, utilizes biodegradable materials like cotton, is handspun, and hand-woven with minimal energy consumption. Imagine putting Àdìre or Aso Òkè in your contemporary street wear fashion, this is not only beauty on a new level, but royalty. It is echo form glorious past proven to be capable of lasting generations.

From Africa with love

You need to add bits of this royalty in your casual wears. Color, style with beautiful patterns which complements popular fashion in bold new ways. What better plug to claim yours than us, with ancestry of artisans who handspun and designed regal patterns for ancient royals with outmost care and eyes for excellence.

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