Imane Ayissi : from Africa to the World, a unique exhibition in Atlanta
The exhibition "From Africa to the World" by Imane Ayissi, organized at the Scad Fash university in Atlanta until February 23, 2025, celebrates the talent of the Cameroonian designer. A pioneer of African fashion, he highlights unique artisanal techniques and natural materials, creating a bridge between Africa and the West.
By the editorial staff
Since September 18, 2024, and until February 23, 2025, the Scad Fash university in Atlanta is hosting the exhibition « From Africa to the World » by Imane Ayissi. This retrospective honors the career of a Cameroonian designer whose creativity and commitment to African craftsmanship are internationally recognized. The first African invited to the prestigious Haute Couture calendar (FHCM) since 2020, Imane Ayissi has now become a key figure in fashion, both in Europe and the United States.
Imane Ayissi has made raffia and obom bark the signature elements of his creations, breathing new life into African textile traditions on global runways. With this exhibition, he continues his ambition to bring Africa and the West closer together through fashion, by showcasing natural materials and artisanal techniques derived from his cultural heritage.
« The excellence of African craftsmanship »
The exhibition, organized by Rafael Gomes, creative director of the Scad Fash museums, features 45 iconic pieces, each revealing the excellence of African craftsmanship. Visitors will be able to discover creations made of raffia, a handwoven natural material, as well as pieces in obom bark, a textile made from the bark of Moraceae plants. Once used as a loincloth or wrap by the Ekang tribes of Cameroon, obom is now reinterpreted by Ayissi for an international audience.
This first personal exhibition by Imane Ayissi in the United States marks an important milestone in his career. It follows his participation in the collective exhibition « Fashion Africa, » which helped to increase his visibility on a global scale. Through « From Africa to the World, » he demonstrates how fashion can serve as a bridge between cultures and continents. And the question already arises: will we soon see his creations at Scad Lacoste, in France?
