Maryanne Mathias and Molly Keogh bring the textiles of Africa to Western fashionistas with their apparel and accessories label Osei-Duro.
The company was born in Ghana after the designers fell in love with the array of traditional fabrics and designs the country offered.
Osei-Duro’s designs are made from sustainable materials using sustainable manufacturing processes. I’m really drawn to the fabrics which include batik printed silk, cotton voile, and bogalon, a cotton mudcloth colored with local minerals. Each bag is also lined in wax printed cotton. The items are hand woven, hand sewn, and even hand printed to minimize the company’s carbon footprint.
The label isn’t just good for the planet; it’s also good for its people. The fashion house works closely with the ladies at Ghana’s Dzidefo Women’s Cooperative. Through their work for the company the women earn fair wages and hone their skills. They also put a percentage of their earnings back into the business to help it grow.
Osei-Duro apparel and accessories are available at selected boutiques in California, New York, Singapore, and Canada, and through the company’s website. The label ships throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom to ensure key international markets can enjoy its tribal inspired goodies.
