When I saw the prompt for this contest, I laughed so hard because I knew exactly what to share. I was contemplating if I should join in because even though I had what to share, I am very embarrassed to share them. But then since the contest is meant to be fun, I decided to share them anyways.
Being a minimalist is one thing I have always taken pride in but even when I declutter regularly, I am not immune to hoarding things and these particular things I am hoarding is something I just can't let go.
I do sometimes share posts about my fashion journey. I learned fashion design then from a shop not too far from me. It is a roadside shop and one of the difference between learning in a fashion Institute and a roadside shop is that most of the time, learning takes place when our bosses has clothes to make for their clients. Other times we had to bring fabrics from home to practice with.
One of the fabrics I love working with is the African Wax Print known as the “Ankara Fabric”. It is common amongst Nigerians especially the Yoruba Tribe as it is used to commemorate different kinds of events and parties.
After cutting and sewing the clothes, it is common to have leftover fabrics which the clients uses as a tiny scarf on their heads. People with little kids can use theirs to make a small dress for their kids and so on.
I am not really a big fan of wearing scarfs or tying things on my head, so I always wondered what I could use my leftover “Ankara” fabric for.
I started by making small shorts which I wear at home especially during weekends. It was a bit funny when I started the trend in my area, some of my neighbors would laugh while I wear my "Ankara shorts" to sweep the compound.
It didn't take long before some ladies around also went with the trend and they would also use their remaining fabrics to make bum shorts. Some even went as far as wearing it outside their home and took it as far as to the marketplace.
As time went by my experimentation with the “Ankara Fabric” took me further and I started thinking of how to make “bras” by using the fabric and “breast pad”.
This first Image was my first attempt at making “bra” and I attached ropes to be tied at the neck. I made a collage of the outer and inner part. As you can see the linings are not the same color as the fabric. That is because I use any leftover linings I can find in the fashion shop for the inner layers.
This second one has another long rope aside from the ropes at the neck that can be used as a loop that would be tied at the back. I must say that I wore this particular one not more than twice because I can't seem to find anyone to help me tie the loop at the back.
Here I used some leftover satin fabrics. This image was my first attempt at making a “corset top” with bra cups. I decided to use zips instead of loops so I would be able to wear it myself and as usual I used different linings I could find.
I actually tried searching for at least one of those shorts I used to make back then but couldn't find any. They must have ended up in my list of things I disposed some years back.
Now looking at this images, I must say that I can't explain this obsession I had with making clothes that ends up with me tying rope at the back of my neck.
Even though I don't wear them neither can I give them out because who would want to wear "Ankara bras"?, I can't get rid of them, I can't seem to explain it. Maybe because they were amongst my first crazy experiments with the Ankara fabrics or I am keeping them for memory purposes but I know I am finding it hard to throw them out. Maybe someday I would, but for now let me keep holding on to them.
All Images used are mine.
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