Unity in Design Global Network (UDGN) presented “Anthology of African Stories – The People. The Land. The Heritage” . These stories were interpreted through the creations of three African designers: Twin by Tare (The People), Tayameaca (The Land), and Jermaine Bleu (The Heritage).

Twin by Tare –  The People 

Titled ‘In My Blood’ (Asin Kai Mi), the collection revisits traditional Ijaw weddings, exploring the role of dress in marking family, union, and cultural continuity. Inspired by old family photographs, the collection reimagines ceremonial garments worn during Ijaw marriage rites such as the George Wrapper. The George Wrapper is a traditional garment made from luxurious George fabric, often with bold designs in rich colours and/or embellished with intricate embroidery, beading and shimmering threads. It is usually worn wrapped around the body like a long skirt. This fabric is passed down through generations and is central to the collection, anchoring contemporary silhouettes, layered construction, hand beadwork and refined tailoring in cultural continuity rather than nostalgia.

Tayameaca – The Land 

Titled ‘A Living Archive’, the collection is rooted in lived experience and memories of Zimbabwean landscape as Safari treats land as both teacher and memory. Earthly tones, fluid silhouettes, and tactile textures translate soil, sky, and water into garments that move with the body, emphasising how landscape shapes perception, movement, and identity.

Jermaine Bleu – The Heritage  

Titled ‘Take a Picture of Me’ (Twa Me Foto), Jermaine Bleu is inspired by memories of his late mother, the collection centres on familial inheritance and the cultural significance of traditional Ghanaian dress. Jermaine Bleu reinterprets the kente (traditional woven cloth in vibrant colours and patterns) through contemporary silhouettes while preserving its ceremonial meaning. Handcrafted techniques honour the care traditionally given to ceremonial garments, highlighting heritage, memory, and visibility. 

Images provided by pr agency I.DEA PR