By Kingsley Nkem

Africa is a continent of many ventures.From the grassroots clanging in the blacksmith’s workshop to the elaborate and glamourous flashes of cameras in its entertainment— indeed, Africa is the home of many talents. However, one shines so bright. Seated at the core is a heartbeat that echoes through its threads — Clothing fashion.

Clothing Fashion has become one of the many identities of Africans. The perfect mixture of colours, textures, patterns and expressions not only showcases African heritage but ensures that everyday Africa remains in the spotlight. The Santrofi SS22 Collection by Julange Couture is a true testament to this.
Julange Couture is a Ghanaian fashion brand established by Juliet Sarkodie, a well-grounded fashion designer with sustainable years of experience in clothing design. within this time, Juliet Sarkodie has been featured in several fashion publications and has created a number of dress collections and custom pieces.
Her brand, Julange Couture is known for its captivating designs and the personality the design embodies. The brand is also passionate about reinforcing and encouraging the freedom to be oneself through comfort and style while connecting people into a tribe – a community that shares similar traits and tastes in threads and ideas. Since it came into existence in 2016, the brand has slowly but steadily been achieving this goal by inculcating into its trademark, materials from across Africa in their creations.

Presently, some of the materials they have been able to source from some African countries are Bògòlanfini from Mali & Burkina Faso, Indigo, Baulé & Korhogo from Côte d’Ivoire, Fugu & Kente from Ghana and Leather & Wooden Buttons from Ghana.

So far, the brand has gained recognition and commendations in various publications because of its admirable designs, one of which is the Santrofi SS22 collection. This one-of-a-kind collection was introduced with the peculiar concept of Mix Matching.

Now, you must be curious about what this ‘Mix Matching’ entails. You see, this concept is characterised by combining different styles, patterns, textures and colours within a single outfit.
Sounds complicated, right?

However, it is a very simple trend in fashion that can be admired once you get the hang of it.
To break it down for you, Mix Matching in fashion is when two or more different fabrics or prints are blended to make a complete outfit. In fact, you might have seen this style of fit on a person but didn’t know it is this same Mix Matching.
the interesting thing about this concept is that it had initially started off as a sales mechanism in the 1950s. during that time, the women of the ‘baby boom’ era had grown tired of wearing luxurious clothes since they already had so many at their disposal. so, to combat their failing sales, fashion houses adopted the new fashion of Mix Matching.
One of the many outstanding benefits of this creative style is that it has the ability to create multiple outfits from a limited wardrobe by playing with different combinations. This is especially easier if the complete outfit is a two-piece.

Picture this—In your wardrobe, you have only three sets of two-piece attires that you wear for important occasions. And by important, we mean those ‘gen-gen’ events. Unfortunately, you have worn them all and need something different. Voilà! Mix Matching comes to save the day.

This was exactly the inspiration behind Juliet’s Santrofi SS22 collection creation. You don’t need to have it all before you can be fashionable, all you need is a good sense of style and a bit of Mix matching skill.
The Santrofi SS22 collection is a duo-set batch of two-piece apparel carefully designed to give you a unique and personalised look. The first set of the collection is a two-piece– the perfect symphony of traditional and modern chic.
The outfit begins with a blouse made out of two fabrics — an Ankara fabric and a navy-blue crepe. Featuring a classic round neckline, the blouse makes a loud statement with its three layers of puffed sleeves which is likened to the voluminous sleeve trend of ancient times, this adds an air of sophistication to the fit. The top also has a discreet zipper at the back which gives it a seamless finish.

The patterns on the top can be said to evoke the image of gently swaying seaweeds beneath the water surface, while simultaneously looking like the migration of fish seedlings in unison. All the while the blue background of the fabric makes it seem like a picture drawn out of water. This is not to say that is what the patterns are all about. Some might see them from a floral view even.
To complete the ensemble is a long straight pant crafted from a completely different fabric from what is used to design the blouse. This emphasises the whole mix-match concept of the collection. The pants feature a kaleidoscope of colours, somewhat similar to a colour splash. It has two inseam pockets, a comfortable waistband and a convenient side zipper. The only common characteristics that both halves of the set share are the eye-catching patterns. This similarity ties the look together despite their contrasting colours.
Though an excellent set, the colour scheme present was too daring and mismatched. As a result of this, there wasn’t much sense of harmony in the attire rather the contradicting colours acted as a major distraction from the unique designs given to the outfit.
For a more cohesive look, the designer could consider juxta positioning with more neutral tones. The style of the dress itself is admirable but we believe it can be better with the right colour scheme. For instance, the major colour used on the blouse was blue, and the pants could have been made with a different African print that shares the same colour or colours that complement it like yellow or royal pink. At the end of the day, the beauty of mix-matching in clothing fashion is in the balance of colours. Once that is settled, every other thing falls into place.
The last piece of the collection is also a stunning co-Ord set. The blouse is crafted from an elegant African print called Ankara. It is characterised by a stylish boat neckline which accentuates your slender neck. This feature is followed by bishop sleeves that resonate with the grandeur of some historical fashion trends. The puffs on the sleeve are slightly exaggerated, adding a modern silhouette to the appearance of the outfit. Lastly, the blouse has a keyhole finish at the back which is one of the highlighting attributes of the dress. A thick straight rope made from the Ankara fabric and elastic is used to hold the two ends of the shoulder line at the back, this allows for ease and grace in wearing and movement. While at the bottom two ropes are knotted together to give it the perfect conclusion. This intelligent addition created an eccentric keyhole feature.
The pattern on the blouse is a celestial marvel. The spherical shapes and the overall background can be likened to an astrophotography— reminiscent of multiple planets. Some of the striking yet neutral colours that can be found on the fabric include burnt orange, white, navy blue, etc.
Complementing the blouse is a pair of straight, long pants similar to the one in the first set. It is made from a vibrant yellow African fabric. These trousers could be mistaken for wide-leg pants and almost pass off as one but doesn’t hold the right volume. It has two inseam pockets in front, a waistband and a zipper for a tailored fit. The pants share a similar pattern to the ones found on the top but are still slightly different because of their rounder shape.
The overall look of this set is a beautiful interplay of patterns and style. However, the colour selection might benefit from a slight adjustment. The designer could opt for a different shade of yellow which would enhance the symmetry of the outfit and allow each piece to shine while maintaining an integrated style. Also, a little adjustment can be made to the keyhole design at the back of the blouse. Rather than using ropes – that can loosen if not tightened correctly – to conclude the look and create the keyhole design, the designer can substitute it with a zipper instead. This will not only allow for the comfort of the wearer but also confidence.
To wrap up, these eye-catching attires showcase exceptional creativity and skill. By blending traditional African prints with modern trends, the designer Juliet Sarkodie not only unveils heritage but fusses it with modernity, a true attestation to the fact that following tradition does not have to be a limitation to your style.
Of course, in applauding this collection we cannot leave out the phenomenal brand, Julange Couture for proving to be a brand that keeps pushing boundaries to ensure that it creates something truly memorable. The thoughtful detail, boldness and elegance of each piece show that this collection is a real masterpiece that highlights the endless possibilities of African fashion.