Senegal has long been hailed as a cultural hub adored for its dynamic arts scene, uniquely classical style that blends the old with the new, and artisanal crafts. With its rich history, it’s only natural that some of the most interesting and innovative young brands today emerge from the West African country.
This cohort of designers is following in the footsteps of renowned Senegalese designers Oumou Sy, Selly Raby Kane, Adama Ndiaye, and Sarah Diouf, all trailblazers in their own right who have helped to globally transform the country’s fashion scene.
With a strong focus on conscious production and preserving cultural pride, these brands explore fabrics and proportions inspired by the local style, combining artisanal workmanship with global contemporary aesthetics. In addition to their shared sustainability values and honouring crafts, they also have something else in common: their founders all started their fashion careers as models before successfully pursuing design.
Bogo Atelier
Established by Amina Seck, also known as Amina Ladymya, Bogo Atelier aims to bridge the gap between traditional designs and contemporary fashion by promoting artisanal excellence. Led by natural elements such as water, earth and air, Amina’s collections evoke a sense of serenity and calm. From straightforward dresses in flowy cuts to hand-woven raffia accessories perfect for summer and beach days, and pieces decorated with tribal patterns, each design is a celebration of what the creative director calls modern nomadic style with a feminine touch. Drawing on the environment, Amina places particular importance on natural textiles like mudcloth, which is handwoven and embellished with symbols. Effortlessly impactful, this brand is for the classic woman.
Dohrek
Influenced by her mother’s style, Maty Ndiaye’s womenswear brand, Dohrek captures the nostalgia of family ties and her experience growing up in Senegal. Maty looks to old family photographs for inspiration, keeping her family history alive through modern, delicate designs that are both elegant and edgy. Dohrek’s collections feature oversized sophisticated gowns and headwraps, an image one might easily associate with elegant ladylike figures alongside more youthfully-charged products like stretchy crop tops, denim sets, and cut-out cocktail dresses. Experimental in their approach, Dohrek offers a unique mix of staple items and cool separates in quirky details.
Maison Kébé
Maison Kébé is the brainchild of model Cheikh Kébé and marketing and luxury brand consultant Fatoumata Conte. Designed by Cheikh, the brand offers couture-inspired creations for men and women for special occasions and everyday dressing. Channelling local culture through style, their collections are developed from deadstock materials and locally produced fabrics like the Thioub, a traditionally hand-dyed fabric synonymous with Malian ceremonial dressing. Their latest collection highlights embellished denim pieces that reference timeless garments like the boubou and their version of the little black dress. Details like bronze buttons seen on their denim designs echo Senegal’s vibrant history in metalwork and jewellery adornment.
