I just saw some gorgeous Ankara print umbrella’s on a friend’s facebook page, and was immediately reminded of Gillean. Years ago, whilst still in high school she had an idea to make Ankara print umbrellas. She even planned to go to China and get them manufactured for her final design project. Alas the only thing in her way was the fact that she was a broke 17 year old.
One of the things I love about these umbrellas is that they are designed by South African Gareth Cowden. I like the fact that Burberry Prorsum and the likes are making “African print” more mainstream, but there always seems to be more behind the print when the designer is home grown.
For Gareth Cowden the label Babatunde, which means “the father returns” in Yoruba, provides a platform for social comment and change. By choosing the name Babatunde, he expresses a desire for more African men “to take responsibility of their families, Africa’s growth and for themselves.”
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