Long Skirt “Fire of Joy”

A long and elegant pencil skirt, slit at the back. The encounter between a Faso dan fani from Burkina Faso, the Tie & Dye of a Bazin from Mali and the vintage damask of a pair of silk curtains.

It was by composing this range of fabrics with graphic patterns and flamboyant colors that we were inspired to create this unique piece. And before having the honor of reworking these beautiful fabrics in our studio, Julie, the designer spent years collecting and studying the fabrics and the stories they tell. This deep interest in combining textiles of all kinds is at the heart of her creative process.

The magnificent yellow, orange and purple Tie & Dye that radiates from the front of the skirt is a prestigious textile, originating from Mali, called Bazin. It was tied and dyed in the Wolofo Bougou district of Bamako, by the great craftsmen Modibo Samake and Mariam Coulibaly.

The floral motifs that can be seen in filigree on the sides at the front of the skirt come from a pair of silk damask curtains from the 1950s. Julie found them at our neighbor's antique dealer in the Marolles district where our atelir located in Brussels.

The gold and purple fabrics that make up the back of the skirt are artisanal cotton weaves called Faso dan Fani or "woven loincloths". They were made in the Gonghin district of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, by Lydie Nikiéma, an artisan weaver who creates these marvels from her family's backyard.

The cut of the model is rather adjusted and close to the body, which has the effect of lengthening the silhouette and highlighting the curves of the body. For a harmonious fall and optimal comfort, I lined the fabrics with a thinner and lighter cotton. Its pretty slit cutout at the back allows you to walk and move freely. It can easily be worn with a crop top or a wrap-around top from our collection, flat sandals or even high heels.

Made with great care and finesse, this unique piece, entirely handmade, required twelve hours of work, from the research of the fabrics through the composition of the patchwork to the manufacturing stages.

List of handcrafted and/or upcycling textiles:

• Coton Faso dan fani artisanal from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
• Handmade Cotton Bazin Tie & Dye from Bamako, Mali
• Vintage damask found in the Marolles district of Brussels

Technical details:

• Size S - 38
• Tall
• Ankle length
• Cotton lining
• High-end finishes
• Dry clean or delicately by cold hand
• Iron at low temperature