Australian label Sass & Bide never ceases to amaze me with their doses of Africa in there pieces. Their designs are very tribalistic and I mean that in the most creative sense. Their pieces adopt traits from a number of ethic groups around the world. Australian Vogue simply describes the style of Sass & Bide ‘eclectic tribal aesthetic’. I think their are strong hints of certain African tribes. For example the heavy beading used by the Masai tribe and use of bright colours by the Ndebele people.
For their 2013 eyewear collection ‘Ladysaint‘, Sass & Bide have taped into Africa meshed with Asia. Sass & Bide (Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton) recently went to Kenya as part of the International Trade Centre’s Ethical Fashion Initiative. Yes, another luxury/high-end label trying to change Africa a collection at a time! Insert sarcasm here!
There was no surprise seeing bits of Africa floating through in this collection. Sass & Bide also designed bags for the International Trade Centre’s Ethical Fashion Initiative made by craftswomen in Kenya.
SOURCE: SASS & BIDE, VOGUE AUSTRALIA, TRENDLAND & NY TIMES