Amechi Mandi on the treasured item that inspired his journey into design
This vintage Kirdi modesty apron was the catalyst for my decision to study design. I was always fascinated by traditional textiles and started collecting them when I was about 21. One of my favourite songs is Birima by Youssou N’dour: it symbolises a deep sense of culture trailing back thousands of years. To my young self, the apron was that in textile form.
I started working in fashion and, at the back of my mind, there were always these patterns. Years later, after moving from Berlin to the UK for university, I saw a beautiful chair by David David in collaboration with Glass Hill that spurred me to think these patterns I loved would look good on furniture.
The original Kirdi modesty aprons were handwoven from glass beads, very intricate, with a million colours and variations. I bought mine in Douala, Cameroon, at Marché des Fleurs, where you can buy crafts from around the country and other parts of Africa –authentic things, not the tacky stuff! There is so much treasure!
I launched my brand with a series of cushions inspired by the Kirdi. Initially, I struggled to find the right way of interpreting it, but it eventually dawned on me that the beadwork could be hand drawn and digitally illustrated, capturing its essence in an authentic way.
It was important for me to use these indigenous textiles to send a message about my community, because I felt like we’ve been affected so much by colonialism – in good and bad ways. We are forgetting the textiles that came from us. I look at these with pride because they’re so beautiful. amechihome.com
