Hey Royal Fam!
In this week’s Daily Fashion Fix style post, I’m getting a bit personal while sharing this week’s global style feature hope you enjoy!
Let’s talk a bit about religion. My own spirituality, like my heritage, is often represented in the clothes I wear. It’s an extension of who I am .. A comfort, if you will. And while some find that sense of connection through church and other forms of traditional American worship (i.e Christianity), if I’m being truly honest? … That hasn’t resonated with me for quite some time … And looking at recent religious trends / research among “millennials,” I’m realizing I’m not alone.
Today, while I ascribe to Buddhism as my life path, my inclinations toward acknowledging and praying to "Mother Universe" ... Thanking the sun for its warm rays ... Celebrating the power of the moon and stars ... Or Connecting with this universal life force through meditation is just as important for me. I'm sure growing up with my dad praying to our Ghanaian ancestors and having a den filled with books from every religion known to man, probably aided in what some might consider unconventional spiritual views/practices, LOL.
In creating my 1st fashion collection back in 2015 for the Q.A.C. Webstore, my love of art and history came to the life when I had the chance to sit with an elder of the Dogon tribe. Found primarily in Mali, W. Africa, this tribe is known for their wooden masked dances, incredible architecture, and wooden artistic sculptures. However, they are most noted for their mud cloth fabric, often showcasing their ancient knowledge of the stars / universe.
Interestingly enough, when American and European scientists finally interviewed the Dogon people during the 1940's, they came to realize the tribe already had extensive knowledge of solar systems .. Planet orbits .. And stars like the then only hypothesized "Sirius.” As a note, this star was invisible to the naked eye. During that time, the presence of “Sirius” had yet to be formally confirmed by the science elite of the day, however it ultimately went on to be widely known and accepted.
The ancestors had so much knowledge, power, & magic with them.
With a powerful history paired with unique hand-painting, I was utterly drawn to create my 1st collection and have this fabric be the foundation. In recognizing how connected the Dogon people are to the universe ... Their connection to the moon & stars .. In them, I saw bits of myself. Adwoa, daughter of the Moon Goddess Adwo (my tribal name from my Ghanaian Akan people).
In all, this dress, one of my 1st garment creations was such a proud moment for me .. And I can’t wait to create more!
PS: Love this dress?
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Till then the Journey Continues!
