Burkina Faso’s best-known fashion export is Faso Dan Fani, a hand-woven cotton cloth that doubles as a national symbol.
Cloth with a message
The cloth became a national emblem when Thomas Sankara took office in 1983. He wanted a unifying identity for a nation newly free of colonial rule, and in 1986 described wearing it as an act of defiance. It became less common after his 1987 assassination, was later revived, and in late 2017 became the required dress code for official state ceremonies.
How it is made
Traditionally women spin the cotton thread and men weave it on a narrow loom, producing strips that are sewn together, though women later took up weaving too. Stripes are the signature style, but weavers also make tartan and houndstooth patterns. The Ethical Fashion Initiative has worked in Ouagadougou since 2014, partnering with the enterprise CABES and a large network of weavers.
Fashion today
Designers including Elie Kuamé use the cloth in traditional and modern clothing, and Dan Fani Fashion Week promotes it locally and across the region.
Sources: TDS Blog: Faso Dan Fani, Ethical Fashion Initiative: Faso Dan Fani.
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