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Africanews

Gabon fashion designer brings traditional raffia to Paris runways

Africanews · 28 days ago
Africanews
Africanews
28 days ago

The natural material derived from palm leaves, and traditionally reserved for Gabon's nobles and village chiefs, gained international attention on the runways of the world's fashion capital.

Breakdown
  • Raffia, a palm leaf textile, featured on Paris runways for the first time
  • Designer Chuchu Lazar uses raffia in nearly all his garments 27s
  • Raffia has deep cultural and spiritual meaning in Gabon 1m 0s
  • Lazar wants raffia recognized globally and protected as Gabonese heritage 1m 47s
  • Lazar began sewing at age nine with no formal fashion training 2m 6s
Fashion